rudedog wrote:
I've had freshwater aquarium for years with no problems. I'm ready to
switch to salt water. I purchased the necessary equipment and
supplies. Ocean salt in bags, Wet/Dry filter, skimmer, sand (store
bought)hydrometer, hi ph test kits and powerheads. I will be using a
55 gallon tank. I live close to the ocean. Is there any problems if I
go ahead and get ocean water VS purchasing sea salt and do my mix. How
about water changes. Can I use ocean water? How about sand and rocks
from the ocean?

Thanks
Rudy

Rudy,

Natural ocean water is the best for your tank, as long as the water is
not poluted or diluted from near shore areas. It is best if you can go
out a mile or so from shore to collect it.

as for the sand and rock, really depends on where you are at. If you
are in the tropics, you should be fine, but from more temperate areas it
is not really a good idea because the main reason you want live sand and
rock is for the life on/in them. And if the life you have is temperate
life, it might not survive at tropical tempuratures so you will end up
with dead sand and rock anyway.

Also on your supplies you talk about a wet dry, what are you planing on
putting in your tank? If you are planning on a reef tank, I would
suggest you skip the wet dry completely.

Kim