sea water

[beginnermatt]

I was woundering if anyone uses natural sea water. During the water months of the year I go boating around Martha's Vineyard. Could this water be used. Thanks.

 

[lordofthereef]

i wouldn't do it. there is probly contaminants in that water that you don't want. just make your own water, its just safer.

 

[underthesea]

i agree with lord on being safe and using artificial salt water. Just think of the oils and gas givin off by the boats and things in the ocean do you want that in your tank. If you had a major purafier like (Boston Sea Aquarium)then you could use it.

 

[fallen04]

i have a 240gal salt in my family room and since i set it up 5 years ago. I only use catalina water available at my lfs. I keep a nurse shark, a ray, lions, and groupers. Nurse sharks are very sensitive to their water and cant handle poor water quality at all. i have used synthetic salts and she was not happy. water quality is not an issue as long as you know where the water is coming from. also it helps to have a relative who works for a local city aquarium. He filled me in on who is the most reputable to deal with.

 

[beginnermatt]

I don't think pollutants would be a problem becase of the current and changing tides. I don't stay very close to the island. I think you all made some good points but i'm still not sure.

 

[templar]

The main point should be, simply why risk such an expensive hobby because you can't spend $25 to buy a bag of salt and mix your own water, which would probably take LESS TIME then collecting seawater in large amounts that you don't know what the heck is in it anyway?

 

[fallen04]

driving to your lfs and filling up your 5 gal jugs while you are there to purchase other stuff is not really that time consuming. trusting synthetic salts is not a guarantee in getting a pure clean mix. in my area of california there are so many additives in the water put there for our benefit supposedly is doing a number on our fish no matter what purifiers we add.

 

[cimstone]

I live on Marthas Vineyard and use natural sea water in one of my tanks. To be honest it is easier to use synthetic mix most of the time. Very little waste, can adjust SG easily. I have a Queen Angel that was caught here and it is in the natural water. I would say that the natural water is better used in a really large tank. After filtering it clears up really nice. But, my fish came from this area.

 

[fishoutofwater]

i currently use purified ocean water straight out of the puget sound area here in washington state. it has been micron filtered and uv sterilized. i have a source for my maintenance aquarium business that sells it and uses it for there display tanks. it is wonderfull and have been using it for over a year. makes life much easier and is much healthier for the fish. i use and sell over 1000 gallons a month. Never ever have had any problems. I do my water changes on my 40 reef, 80 quranten tank and my 120 fish only in about 1hr for all 3. much much faster and easier.