Hi Ron,
In your article you wrote, For those aquarists who must use artificial seawater, it is imperative to find out the contents of the salt mixes that are available, and to use the one with the lowest concentrations of trace materials. However, in reading Atkinson and Bingman's article, it seems even the salts with the lowest concentrations of heavy metals are far above NSW levels. You also mention how skimming may assist in removal, but to what extent? Would aggressive skimming reduce trace elements enough to bring levels closer to NSW or less life threatening numbers? Also how would regular and large water changes help slow the accumulation of trace elements if the salt used is the very source of said trace elements? Is there anything we (as hobbyists) can do to convince the producers of commercially available salt mixes to reduce trace elements to a more natural level?
Thank you for a most enlightening article.
In your article you wrote, For those aquarists who must use artificial seawater, it is imperative to find out the contents of the salt mixes that are available, and to use the one with the lowest concentrations of trace materials. However, in reading Atkinson and Bingman's article, it seems even the salts with the lowest concentrations of heavy metals are far above NSW levels. You also mention how skimming may assist in removal, but to what extent? Would aggressive skimming reduce trace elements enough to bring levels closer to NSW or less life threatening numbers? Also how would regular and large water changes help slow the accumulation of trace elements if the salt used is the very source of said trace elements? Is there anything we (as hobbyists) can do to convince the producers of commercially available salt mixes to reduce trace elements to a more natural level?
Thank you for a most enlightening article.