Using Real Ocean Water

[Luke7e]

Hello everyone...I am relatively new to Salt Water Tanks and just set up a 12Gallon JBJ Nano DX with 10lbs of live fiji rock and 12 lbs of live sand. This is my 2nd question so far....I live on the ocean in Maine and can collect salt wter from a very pollution free source. I know that some books say that you shouldn't use real ocean water as you may introduce a parasite or disease to your tank, but how harmful can it really be. Also, is there a difference in makeup between North Atlantic and Tropical waters besides salinity and temp that could harm my fish?

[Charlie97L]

since you're running a nano, i'd recommend against it... the only real benefit would be cost, but with a nano, you won't be running through that much salt or water to really make it worth the risk

if you do use it, you're supposed to let it cure for about a month before introducing it to your tank. i've seen discussion on other forusm about it, i believe... i know you can't just take it and dump it in your tank. the curing may be longer than that, it could be 3 months, i can't recall.

[Luke7e]

It would be less for cost and more for the benefits of having all essential trace elements and correct PH right off the bat. I have a 75 Gallon in my office that I could use it with as well...How do you cure ocean Water? Would you just put in in a clean trash barrell and run a pump in it for a month?

[Charlie97L]

i'll see if i can find it... well i mean, yes, it would be cheaper, but all the salt mixes put the trace elements in there as well, and you don't have to worry about pollution or disease.

we have enough problems in our closed system as is, without introducing other things... i'll have to check also on the location, as all the people i've heard of doing this lived on the pacific or near a reef area... northern atlantic water might not be the right composition.

edit:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...?postid=166214

here's one thread on it on RC, but not the one I was thinking of... basically, i personally think you're taking a chance... but that's just me... so 2 weeks, seems to be the curing time.

keep in mind, too, that almost all of these people live on the pacific that were chiming in on the thread. maybe get some water from your source, let it sit for a few weeks, and then test the params.

[mps9506]

Water off the coast of Maine is not goinng to be the same as the water off Fiji.
I use filtered NSW in some of my tanks, but I simply do it for cost. This water is UV sterilized and goes through a sand filter, measures undetectible on the phosphate test kit, as well as nitrates. I would not use it if it wasn't filtered and sterilized however.
As far as letting it sit in a barrel for amonth. My opinion is that you are doing more harm to the water like this because you are letting any plankton and bacteria in the water die and buildup in the barrel.
BTW no scientific basis for my post. just my opinion.

[Charlie97L]

yeah i agree, the technique for curing was a little iffy. i believe you had to filter it after it cured, as well... just a PITA IMO.

[Luke7e]

Thanks guys...really great answers...

[cracker]

Thanks mps, I wasn't sure on curing nsw for such a long time.You mention the use of nsw of some of your tanks. I have access to nsw but cost of collecting and transporting is the issue. May I ask how you do this?

[cheeks69]

In a Portuguese forum I frequent the vast majority of members use NSW ONLY and have had great success !!! The key is where you collect it

[Witfull]

how harmful can it really be?

sometimes im a pessimist, and in that frame of mind,,,,total wipe out of everything in the tank. bad things happen fast in saltwater tanks,,,even faster in nanos.

with the quality of mixes, and there added buffers that are needed in tanks, its better to be safe than sorry. there are even bottled saltwaters on the market now. for nanos this is a decent option.

[mps9506]

Originally Posted by cracker

Thanks mps, I wasn't sure on curing nsw for such a long time.You mention the use of nsw of some of your tanks. I have access to nsw but cost of collecting and transporting is the issue. May I ask how you do this?

I'm actually pretty lucky. The local university has an aquaculture facility on the sound here. They breed local fish like flounder and drum for research and hopefully food ...
Anyways they pump water in from the ocean. The water is pumped to a holding tank, where I can either get straight from the holding tank, or the rest of the water gets filtered, which is the water I use.
Lots of aquaculture facilites use water like this because the cost of mixing that much salt would be prohibitive.
If you have access to clean sw I see no problems in using it, however I would test it for major nutrients and alk,ca,mg and phosphate to make sure it is suitable for a reef tank. For a fish only tank I wouldn't be too concerned using it either way as long as you are confident no pollutants are present.
Again JMO.

[Witfull]

my concerns are 2 fold. first and foremost is polution. and i dont just mean chemicals of a toxic nature. many many shore areas have elevated levels of Po4, nitrates and other fertilizers fro m run off. this comes from run off from streams, rain and sewers. they also contain more protiens and suspented dirt. this is caused by wave action. ever notice the foam on a wave? looks like skimate doesnt it? these protiens and dirts are deposited on the high tide mark for waste removal. this is what fertilizes dune grasses. then yo9u have to think of nastier things that could be disolved in the water. oils form suntan lotions, chemicals that are dumped illegallly. dirty bilge water from recreational and commercial boats.

second, possible pathogens. if its not filtered or left fallow for 8 weeks this is always a chance.

so,,,if you can get clean water away form the coast, and weigh the pros and cons,,,its up to you. after all, its your tank and the wont come after you,,,lol

[cracker]

If I may get off topic here, I'm in Florida and tempted to collect live sand from inshore mangrove stands. These shallow water flats cover 100's of square miles ,(Mother Natures DSB )but are subject to all the runoff witful mentions. A gallon of this silty sand collected deep in the mangroves would be loaded with life. I want to try this by collecting and adding this LS to a tank with an existing DSB and see what happens. A quarantine of sorts and long acclimation, testing water params while making every effort to dillute the water it came from. Any OP's?

[Witfull]

check salinity before collecting if there are nearby streams feeding the area, and acclimate accordingly.iwouldnt do this in a tank with expensive or deicate fish.