Natural Sal****er

[Mike Umana]

Just like to know if I can use ocean water from Miami Beach and put it
directly into my aquarium. Are there any precautions or additives that I can
use or should I just keep buying sal****er from my pet store. I know some
one who uses water from the beach when it is hide tide. He believes that it
has more nourishment then the water sold at the pet store and no chemicals
are needed.
MIKE

[swhastan]

Natural sal****er is better than synthetic one.
However, the water from beach may be contaminated. So, no one recommends
using that.
Absolutely, you can try, but in the worst case, you may lose all your live
stock.
Synthetic salt never gave me a severe problem.
Also, when you buy the sal****er from pet store, you'd better check if it's
made from synthetic salt or from nature. If it's synthetic, you don't need
to buy that. Just use RO/DI water with synthetic salt.
I recommend Instant Ocean product.
If that's from the ocean, it'll be pretty much expensive. (Around $15~20 per
4 gallon bottle)

Sungwon


"Mike Umana" > wrote in message
...
> Just like to know if I can use ocean water from Miami Beach and put it
> directly into my aquarium. Are there any precautions or additives that I
> can
> use or should I just keep buying sal****er from my pet store. I know some
> one who uses water from the beach when it is hide tide. He believes that
> it
> has more nourishment then the water sold at the pet store and no chemicals
> are needed.
> MIKE
>
>

[[email protected]]

> If that's from the ocean, it'll be pretty much expensive. (Around
$15~20 per
> 4 gallon bottle)

Alot of fish stores in south florida sell natural sea water for 50 to
75 cents a gallon. Many lfs gets sea water then they run it thru a
sterlizer. I have been using it for months. Works great. Ask your
lfs if they sell natural sea water.

[George]

"Mike Umana" > wrote in message
...
> Just like to know if I can use ocean water from Miami Beach and put it
> directly into my aquarium. Are there any precautions or additives that I can
> use or should I just keep buying sal****er from my pet store. I know some
> one who uses water from the beach when it is hide tide. He believes that it
> has more nourishment then the water sold at the pet store and no chemicals
> are needed.
> MIKE
>

The biggest problem with using natural sea water is the risk of it being
contaminated either with industrial of urban pollutin, and/or unwanted
microbes/parasites or other critters. There are ways to use natural sea****er
safely (which I'm sure involves a quarantine procedure) but is has been a long
time since I've read up on the process. Perhaps someone here can give you some
other pointers.

George

[Don Geddis]

"swhastan" > wrote on Wed, 11 May 2005:
> If that's from the ocean, it'll be pretty much expensive. (Around $15~20 per
> 4 gallon bottle)

In the San Francisco area, I can find natural seawater from Catalina island
(a marine sanctuary off the coast of San Diego) for $1/gallon.

-- Don
__________________________________________________ _____________________________
Don Geddis http://reef.geddis.org/
A fool does not learn from his mistakes. A normal man does learn from his
mistakes. But the exceptional man learns from the mistakes of others.

[Kevin Muenzler, WB5RUE]

> wrote in message
oups.com...
> > If that's from the ocean, it'll be pretty much expensive. (Around
> $15~20 per
> > 4 gallon bottle)
>
> Alot of fish stores in south florida sell natural sea water for 50 to
> 75 cents a gallon. Many lfs gets sea water then they run it thru a
> sterlizer. I have been using it for months. Works great. Ask your
> lfs if they sell natural sea water.


One concern about using "natural" sea water directly from the ocean is
disesase and parasites. If you buy it from a store it's usually sterilized
(as stated above.) Usually ozone or UV is used. Don't boil it in a metal
pot, even a stainess one. You can have metals (iron, chrome, nickel, etc.)
leach from the pot into the water.


--
Kevin Muenzler, WB5RUE
29º14'52"N 98º14'50"W
Eagle Creek Observatory
http://www.eaglecreekobservatory.org
Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.



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[RicSeyler]

I used to use Gulf water from behind my house. Would go out on a surf board
and get 5 gal at a time from outside the second sandbar but one year I got
a horrible algae outbreak that lasted almost a year. Whatever it was it was
some tenacious stuff. Plus we get Red Tide from time to time here.

Mike Umana wrote:

>Just like to know if I can use ocean water from Miami Beach and put it
>directly into my aquarium. Are there any precautions or additives that I can
>use or should I just keep buying sal****er from my pet store. I know some
>one who uses water from the beach when it is hide tide. He believes that it
>has more nourishment then the water sold at the pet store and no chemicals
>are needed.
>MIKE
>
>
>
>

--
Ric Seyler
Online Racing: RicSeyler
GPL Handicap 6.35

http://www.pcola.gulf.net/~ricseyler
remove –SPAM- from email address
--------------------------------------
"Homer no function beer well without."
- H.J. Simpson

[Boomer]

Yes and quite often it is collect off shore where it is not polluted. Near shore water is
not a good idea

--
Boomer

Want to talk chemistry ? The Reef Chemistry Forum
http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin/index.php


Former US Army Bomb Technician (EOD)
Member; IABTI, NATEODA, WEODF, ISEE & IPS

If You See Me Running You Better Catch-Up


> wrote in message
oups.com...
:> If that's from the ocean, it'll be pretty much expensive. (Around
: $15~20 per
: > 4 gallon bottle)
:
: Alot of fish stores in south florida sell natural sea water for 50 to
: 75 cents a gallon. Many lfs gets sea water then they run it thru a
: sterlizer. I have been using it for months. Works great. Ask your
: lfs if they sell natural sea water.
:

[Xerces]

I use nothing but NSW and have no issue. I live on the east coast of
Canada, the water is collected from the shore at high tide. Only way
to go!

On Fri, 13 May 2005 08:28:04 -0500, "Boomer"
> wrote:

>Yes and quite often it is collect off shore where it is not polluted. Near shore water is
>not a good idea

[George]

"Xerces" > wrote in message
...
>I use nothing but NSW and have no issue. I live on the east coast of
> Canada, the water is collected from the shore at high tide. Only way
> to go!

Probably a lot cleaner than most places in the states.

[Xerces]

I have tested the water and found the only issues were low CA
(300~350) and a lower SG then I am used to (1.020 ~ 1.023) I buffer it
for the alk and CA. The water is taken from the shore and usualy has
pods etc etc in it.

On Fri, 13 May 2005 14:50:31 GMT, "George"
> wrote:

>
>"Xerces" > wrote in message
...
>>I use nothing but NSW and have no issue. I live on the east coast of
>> Canada, the water is collected from the shore at high tide. Only way
>> to go!
>
>Probably a lot cleaner than most places in the states.
>

[Boomer]

That's for sure. The Canadian shores are much cleaner than ours par/ Florida keys

--
Boomer

Want to talk chemistry ? The Reef Chemistry Forum
http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin/index.php


Former US Army Bomb Technician (EOD)
Member; IABTI, NATEODA, WEODF, ISEE & IPS

If You See Me Running You Better Catch-Up


"George" > wrote in message
news:X83he.78290$c24.4534@attbi_s72...
:
: "Xerces" > wrote in message
: ...
: >I use nothing but NSW and have no issue. I live on the east coast of
: > Canada, the water is collected from the shore at high tide. Only way
: > to go!
:
: Probably a lot cleaner than most places in the states.
:
:

[bergzy]

initially, i had some good results with natural sea water BUT over
time...i noticed an accumulation of a weird funky algae that seemed to
bloom everytime i did a water change with nsw (catalina).

now, i just use synthetic salt made with ro/di. the mix is always
consistent with the trace elements in check and balance. i know that
there is no nitrates, phosphates etc due to the water being run through
a ro/di filter first. in addition, i use a high quality, established
synthetic salt. tropic marin and isnstant ocean being the best of the
best out there.

i use to swear by nsw but i am starting to read a lot of opinions about
problems with nsw. plus, there will be inconsistent trace element
levels which is ironic because the train of thought is that the ocean
is 'always' consistent. unfortunately, after reading reef aquarium
experts...this is not the case.

plus, when i make my own water...i do not have to go the the fish store
with empty bottles and return with heavy bottles. i just turn on my
ro/di tap to fill my salt water mixing container, put in the salt mix,
drop in a powerhead, heater and airstone. wait a day, check salinity
and alk, pump out old tank water and pump in the same amount of new
sal****er.

with nsw, i had to put the containers in my car, drive 25 minutes to
the fish store (barring no traffic), take the containers out of my car,
carry them to the water area, fill them up (but usually an employee has
to do that...so i have to wait for them to do that for me), drive back
home (25 minutes barring no traffic), empty the containers into one
large container, test water parameter alk, pH, nitrate, phosphate (why
with nsw and not synthetic...because experience has taught me that nsw
is inconsistent), make any adjustments (usually i have to adjust alk a
lot), circulate, aerate heat for one day, pump out old tank water, pump
in fresh nsw. cross my fingers and hope that nothing goes wrong.

why do i pump water in and out for water changes? because i have a
300g system, i dont get my hands wet and i dont have to lift a thing.
i would recommend this whether you have a 10g system or a 1000g system.
work smarter...not harder.

so...which is easier to me?

yes, there are you guys that can go to the beach, have a boat to go out
to more open 'possibly unpolluted waters'...but the hassle factor is
even more, for me, than just making synthetic sea water.

[Xerces]

I have the water delivered. I get it 50 ~ 90gals at a time at $.060
per gal. I have large food grade containers that hold the water. I use
small pumps to keep it circulating and a heater to keep it at the same
temp as the tank. Water changes are done by syphoning the old out and
pumping the new in. I have a RO filter that I use for make up water.
Less stress then using salt, less expense. I have had no issues with
algae and good growth.

http://community.webshots.com/photo/236290540/331037764beSgBJ

I'm pleased with the results and have no plans on going back to salt.


On 15 May 2005 21:45:58 -0700, "bergzy" > wrote:

>initially, i had some good results with natural sea water BUT over
>time...i noticed an accumulation of a weird funky algae that seemed to
>bloom everytime i did a water change with nsw (catalina).
SNIP>
>so...which is easier to me?
>
>yes, there are you guys that can go to the beach, have a boat to go out
>to more open 'possibly unpolluted waters'...but the hassle factor is
>even more, for me, than just making synthetic sea water.

[Dsybok]

Its off the coast of Los Angeles actually , and despite the massive amounts
of pollution one would think that entails, its remarkably clean around the
waters of Catalina. Currents must take the pollution down the coast. Im
surprised you get it all the way up in SF, but it is quite popular and
common to see it down this way in LA.

The Island is about 25 miles offshore directly opposite Long Beach and one
of the most polluted harbors in the world.

D
"Don Geddis" > wrote in message
...
> "swhastan" > wrote on Wed, 11 May 2005:
> > If that's from the ocean, it'll be pretty much expensive. (Around $15~20
per
> > 4 gallon bottle)
>
> In the San Francisco area, I can find natural seawater from Catalina
island
> (a marine sanctuary off the coast of San Diego) for $1/gallon.
>
> -- Don
>
__________________________________________________ __________________________
___
> Don Geddis
http://reef.geddis.org/
> A fool does not learn from his mistakes. A normal man does learn from his
> mistakes. But the exceptional man learns from the mistakes of others.

[Bernhard Kuhne]

El Wed, 11 May 2005 16:24:46 -0700, swhastan escribió:

>
> Natural sal****er is better than synthetic one.
> However, the water from beach may be contaminated. So, no one recommends
> using that.
> Absolutely, you can try, but in the worst case, you may lose all your live
> stock.
> Synthetic salt never gave me a severe problem.
> Also, when you buy the sal****er from pet store, you'd better check if it's
> made from synthetic salt or from nature. If it's synthetic, you don't need
> to buy that. Just use RO/DI water with synthetic salt.
> I recommend Instant Ocean product.
> If that's from the ocean, it'll be pretty much expensive. (Around $15~20 per
> 4 gallon bottle)
>
> Sungwon
>
>
> "Mike Umana" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Just like to know if I can use ocean water from Miami Beach and put it
>> directly into my aquarium. Are there any precautions or additives that I
>> can
>> use or should I just keep buying sal****er from my pet store. I know some
>> one who uses water from the beach when it is hide tide. He believes that
>> it
>> has more nourishment then the water sold at the pet store and no chemicals
>> are needed.
>> MIKE
>>
>>
I have used natural seawater in my 250 liter tank now for about 33 years
without problems. Perhaps this is due to the fact that I fished or
collected the inhabitants of the tank always by myself at the same shore.

So I think that it depends a little bit on type of aquarium you want to
install. There are probably a lot of animals that are very delicate and
require special purity considerations. However, I think that this
normally is not necessary.

Usually I recicle the water some days over a sand filter before the first
fish enters. There may be some outbreak of unexpected life forms like
worms, mussels etc. but all this is welcome in a natural sea water tank.
So I have even taken water from a sea port. In this case I added first a
small amount of filter aid (earth of diatomeas) which finally remained in
the sand filter.

Also, I collected natural grown caulerpa which normally grows in rather
dirty places and placed it in my tank.This enters always a bit of mud but
I never have seen any adverse effect for this reason.

So in my opinion the danger of contamination in natural seawater taken
from the shore is rather overestimated.

Bernhard

[egross]

Just out of curiosity, who delivers the salt water? Especially for 5 bucks!


"Xerces" > wrote in message
...
>I have the water delivered. I get it 50 ~ 90gals at a time at $.060
> per gal. I have large food grade containers that hold the water. I use
> small pumps to keep it circulating and a heater to keep it at the same
> temp as the tank. Water changes are done by syphoning the old out and
> pumping the new in. I have a RO filter that I use for make up water.
> Less stress then using salt, less expense. I have had no issues with
> algae and good growth.
>
> http://community.webshots.com/photo/236290540/331037764beSgBJ
>
> I'm pleased with the results and have no plans on going back to salt.
>
>
> On 15 May 2005 21:45:58 -0700, "bergzy" > wrote:
>
>>initially, i had some good results with natural sea water BUT over
>>time...i noticed an accumulation of a weird funky algae that seemed to
>>bloom everytime i did a water change with nsw (catalina).
> SNIP>
>>so...which is easier to me?
>>
>>yes, there are you guys that can go to the beach, have a boat to go out
>>to more open 'possibly unpolluted waters'...but the hassle factor is
>>even more, for me, than just making synthetic sea water.
>

[Xerces]

DOH!

Should have read .60 a gal. Still a great deal.