harvesting my own salt

[scottallert]

i live in south florida i have easy access to the ocean, i have taken buckets of water left them there and weeks later i see piles of salt just sitting in the bucket.
Is it possible to just take water by the gallons and let the water evaporate out and using the salt for my tanks?

 

[billsreef]

Nope. As the salinity increases, different components of the SW will precipitate at different points. Some of which are insoluble and therefore won't go back into solution.

 

[xJake]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15065079#post15065079 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by billsreef
Nope. As the salinity increases, different components of the SW will precipitate at different points. Some of which are insoluble and therefore won't go back into solution.

+1. The main precipitate (besides sodium chloride) is calcium carbonate, which is virtually insoluble in freshwater under normal conditions. The calcium carbonate is made up of the calcium and alkalinity portions of the seawater; something your corals just can't do without...

 

[jener8tionx]

Why don't you just do water changes with the natural sea water? It seems like that would be ideal.

 

[scottallert]

i was for a while then my corals turned brown stoppd opening, and some died idk why

 

[jener8tionx]

That stinks. Maybe the coastal water is polluted?

 

[username in use]

Thats interesting. Atlantis Marine World on Long Island uses natural sea water in their reef tank and its nothing short of breathtaking. (20,000 gallons) I dont think they really do anything except run a calcium reactor. are you sure it was the water and not lighting or wome other problem in the system that occured at the same time. Also how ong were you using the water before things started turning brown?

 

[scottallert]

3 water changes, i wasnt testing the water for phosphates or calcium alk or mag so that could have been the problem.

 

[billsreef]

You want to avoid collecting NSW around marinas or areas with runoff issues. Good inshore collection areas are clean ocean beaches and inlets on the incoming tide

 

[username in use]

+1 for incoming tide, you want that clean deep ocean water. get to know the general direction of the currents in your area, then you can target areas that are "up stream" from possible pollution sources.

 

[Paul B]

Thats interesting. Atlantis Marine World on Long Island uses natural sea water in their reef tank and its nothing short of breathtaking.

So do I

 

[A.K.A. ReefDoctor]

..

 

[A.K.A. ReefDoctor]

Where are you getting you water from Scott??
When I lived in Lantana FL. I used to get my water from the Boynton Beach Inlet At about 45 minutes before slack High tide, I would only take the cleanest clearest water, ( The More time you spend there the more familure you will get with the water Quality)Then I ran it through a simple sump filter. I had Great results with that water process. The best way if found to collect was to use an 8000 gph gas suction pump with a 300 PVC barrel tank. I got the pump from "NH Northern" In south Miami and the Hoses from "Mako Hose Co." in Palm Beach Near (just West of )the Fair Grounds Off Southern Blvd. Total Equipment cost of around $800 (Not including my truck) But I was able to sell water and have an unlimited water supply The Equipment payed for itself very quickly and then some.

 

[scottallert]

i am collecting at palm beach inlet on high incoming tide
i know the problem was me not testing for things that i dont have a test kit for calcium, phosphates, mag, alk in the summer when i have more time to go out i will start again
i live next to the fairgrounds in loxahatchee
i just go out on my canoe with 5 gallon buckets past the jettie and got the water from there, crystal clear water,
so i should be filtering it out before adding it to my tank?
how so

 

[A.K.A. ReefDoctor]

I just filtered the water circulating through a simple sump with floss and carbon, nothing fancy just a few days of filtration or longer. I probably shoud have even used a skimmer but I saw no need or ill effects without it. I might have been extrememly lucky too but I used that process for almost three years and it out worked great for me.

 

[username in use]

+1 mechanical filtration and a little carbon go a long way in this hobby.

 

[scottallert]

i am going to setup my 75 gallon in the garage and use it to hold sea water, and ill run filterfloss and carbon
thanks for the input.