nsw

[madisonrose]

hello
i know there are some older threads about collecting natural saltwater.
are there people still doing this around here??
i just collected my first batch today, i was kinda picky about where i got it from, i didnt want the bayside. i wanted ocean side.
i checked quality after just collecting still freezing cold
cal 380
dkh 5
salinity 1.022
will the water temp have an effect on readings??
are there anytips on how to collect easily(er) from the ocean
lots of seaweed around here could that be used for anything good?
thanks

 

[Jim Tansey]

I always waited to get temp up to about 80 prior to making measurements, like you I was not sure of the effect of temp on the measurements. If you have any Tangs they will love the seaweed, an inverter and pump makes it easy to collect your NSW.

Jim

 

[marco67]

Just Like Jim said!
I use NSW year around with the exception of the heat spells in July and August when the water has a lot of funk growing in it. Right now is Prime IMO.
My Tangs love the light bright translucent green "Lasagna".

 

[madisonrose]

sounds good no tangs though i was thinking more of some sort of fish food as well
its kinda funny wading into the water in my golashes in janurary
im getting a bit of sand from the surf thats on the beach though but i can filter that out when swapping buckets.

 

[Jocko]

I know you have to account for small temp fluctuations when measuring the specific gravity of beer you're brewing. So I'd think that when you're talking about a 40 degree difference in NSW, then your salinity measurement might be off by a bit. Especially if you're using a hydrometer type device. Not sure about with a refractometer though.

 

[American Flyer]

Madison, I surf quite a bit at Nantasket and I see seaweed that looks like chaeto. I've thought of grabing some and trying to grow it in my sump.

 

[madisonrose]

hey a fellow surfer
yeah i tried collecting some water over on that rocky beach off jerusalm rd
and it was just seaweed everywhere.
if you need cheato i got plenty to spare local stuff might be more fun

 

[American Flyer]

I may take you up on that offer once I get my new system going in February. I am in the process of breaking down a 150 gallon tank. I am going to be putting my 150 gal tank and stand (perfecto) on the market in February for probably $200 -$300. Let me know if you know of any S. Shore hobbyists that may be interested.

 

[willray]

sounds good no tangs though i was thinking more of some sort of fish food as well
its kinda funny wading into the water in my golashes in janurary
im getting a bit of sand from the surf thats on the beach though but i can filter that out when swapping buckets.

I would be real careful.I haven't used nsw b4 but I would try to stay off the surf when collecting(no matter where you are located).There lot of pollutants that sit on the surface...which crashes into the beach.Best if you can go out a little and down and as Jim said...pump it.

 

[reefjarod]

nsw for 2 years with no problems. used salt mix for my last water change and now I have algae problem. I'll be using nsw from now on.

 

[thomb]

I've been using NSW for 6 months. My collection setup:
35 gallon tank from Tractor Supply
Bilge pump w/ about 25' of hose attached. I typically collect from Hampton Harbor at the end of the incoming tide - really easy - drop in the pump, plug it in, and wait (inside the truck now!)
When I get back home - pump it into a trash can and heat for about a day.

 

[myla.tran]

I would really like to see pictures of the tanks from people who uses nsw..because i hear of better coloration and polyp extension of corals from using nsw.

 

[Aquadan88]

Here's an interesting spin on things. I used town water and mixed salt for a few months on a tank I was taking care of. We were having massive problems with slime algae and everything dieing off when I did a water change. I decided to order some ocean water through one of my wholesalers at work. Ever since I started using it, I haven't lost a thing. All the corals are doing great, and the fish too.

I'm not exactly sure where they harvest their water from, but I've definately seen a positive impact. I'll probably be ordering a thing of it myself to throw in the mix for my tank at home.

 

[swampy]

I've been using NSW for about 8 months and no problems. I go a bit against convention and collect in Lynn harbor (crystal clear) and Swampscott Harbor (lots of pods in the summer, just some in the winter, usually some sea weeds). At hight tide I take my 5 gal buckets and just fill em up, trying not to get surface water. I use a net to get most of the seaweed when needed, warm it, bring up the Ca then use it. I also scoop out the pods and dump em in my tank, the fish love it.

My NSW is 10dKH 400 ca

 

[marco67]

I saw a NSW system to beat all NSW systems last weekend.
Down in the keys, 30' well w/ 2" pipe attach pump, flow it through the tanks, another hole drilled on the other side of the property and dump it back.

Imagine...no skimmer, no reactors, no dosing, no sumps, water changes, top off .... Just beautiful clean 76 deg FL keys water 24/7. man so so jealous. I didn't see any water tests but was told parameters were textbook. ::