Sea Water?

[toddhgr]

Maybe this is a stupid question, and please take it easy if it is. But with many of you living in close proximity to the ocean, have you ever tried using actual sea water in your tanks? Can this be done safely? I searched the site and found nothing on this topic. Reading a couple things in the "Petco Water" thread made me wonder.

 

[s_kelley]

A bunch of people use it. Search natural sea water or nsw there are pros and cons and things you need to do to make sure it's as clean as can be

 

[Overlook reef]

You could use natural sea water, but the problem would be contaminants. unless you go far from the shore, you would run the risk of having pollutants introduced to you tank. Also, the micro organisms in the water could cause a nutrient problem as well as maybe introduce a parasite or disease. There are ways to purify the water, but it is a process that I thought was too much risk/ effort as compared to reward. So people report having used untreated seawater with success, but I have been to afraid to try.

A friend on this site sent me this on natural seawater purification.

http://www.saltcorner.com/LMAM/ShowC...D=15#TopOfPage

 

[reefstarter]

++1 ^^ I did some test on the nsw around means decided against it. But people do use it

 

[dz6t]

collecting clean seawater may be a challenge.

 

[toddhgr]

I wonder if the boston aquarium would sell it in bulk?

 

[dz6t]

The funny thing is that I heard, but not confirmed, that NEAQ does not draw water from the bay, they use synthetic seasalt and truck in their water.

 

[bdaley]

I use Natural sea water from Nahant, have been for years with zero ill effects. I run UV and carbon for a day before I use it. I also gather all my live food there also. Can't beat mother nature. I do have to add some to raise the alt and mag a little. 0 phos which is nice.

 

[Jeff.:P]

Do you have any photos of your tank. I'd love to see what seawater can do over time!

 

[sumant19]

I wonder if the boston aquarium would sell it in bulk?

I asked this question on the new england aquarium's website.. got no reply.

 

[sumant19]

Went to Hawaii last week... the Maui Ocean center uses natural sea water.. they have a diagram of all the steps involved in collecting the water and treating it. wish i had taken a photo of that...

 

[delta]

Yes it can be used but there are thing you need to do. Collect on an incoming tide and only after a few days of no rain. keep away from storm drain, Much of the area is not up to par as far as parameter, so you will most likely need to buffer it.

Just look up NSW under useful thread stickied at the top of the page in reeftalk
http://www.bostonreefers.org/forums/showthread.php?6090-nsw

 

[ro_nicu]

used in the past and would use it again, if I would not have to drive 1 hr each way to get it

 

[Turbosnail]

I would use it if I were closer to the ocean.

 

[reefstarter]

Hmmm Maybe I'll get a 275 gallon tank , plop it in back of my truck and make some deliveries

 

[Reefer140]

The funny thing is that I heard, but not confirmed, that NEAQ does not draw water from the bay, they use synthetic seasalt and truck in their water.

I was on a tour a few years back, and they claimed to use water from the bay... Whether or not they treat it in one fashion or another is a different story... Thay may have changed their water sourcing over the years

 

[letoan]

I spoke with oldseadog a couple years ago about this same idea. He collected the water in Lynn when high tide, go home and kept it in the dark, filtered, and carbon for a week before use.

 

[dz6t]

Hmmm Maybe I'll get a 275 gallon tank , plop it in back of my truck and make some deliveries

Ray did that for a while about 10 years back.
I don't think he is still in the hobby. He has a lot of hobbies.
But you may get some headache if someone blame you for their tank crash.

 

[myram]

I live 1 mile from the ocean, but I would be nervous to give it a try.
I could store it in a barrel, run carbon and UV on it before using it.

Is there a true benefit to using NSW over making our own?

 

[this is me]

There's a member here years ago that collect water not too far off the shore and used it in his tank. I tried to search for the thread but there's too many results.

If I have the option, I would use NSW 20miles away from the shore and run a UV sterilizer through it and heat it up.