keith sprague
New member
just as the title stated,im looking for NSW tank shots all SPS tanks.i started another thread on this because i might use NSW. just curious about pros and cons.
natural seawater tank pics
- Thread starter keith sprague
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keith sprague
New member
here's my old tank that i only used NSW in,
nice buzz looks good. how did you prepair your water /or did you just add it in when you did a WC?
Alex T.
Active member
Hey Keith...you live near me. Personally, I wouldn't do it unless you have a boat and are willing to go a few miles off shore to get cleaner water. I tried it in my daughter's nano tank from water that I was collecting at the end of the fishing jetty in Longport and it didn't fare so well. I wound up having to tear the tank down and cook the rock from all the PO4 that got absorbed. If you want to see what natural seawater from our area looks like...check out the AC Aquarium. None of their corals seem to grow that well and there is always nuisance algae in their tanks.
Also, why would you ever risk bringing an unknown pathogen into your system? I don't see it being beneficial long term.
Also, why would you ever risk bringing an unknown pathogen into your system? I don't see it being beneficial long term.
keith sprague
New member
good question alex,maybe cause its free.probally cause im bored.im laid off so i get crazy reef thoughts in my head.be honest with ya im very hesitant about doing it thats why i started this thread. very curious about it though i must admit.
Paul B
Premium Member
Tank was started with NSW in 1971 but now I only use a portion of NSW from the south shore of Long Island. I would use all NSW but as you know, the stuff is heavy.
I sometimes take it from the Long Island Sound but the Atlantic is much better. You can take it from a sandy beach right from the surf.
I sometimes take it from the Long Island Sound but the Atlantic is much better. You can take it from a sandy beach right from the surf.
Tank was started with NSW in 1971 but now I only use a portion of NSW from the south shore of Long Island. I would use all NSW but as you know, the stuff is heavy.
I sometimes take it from the Long Island Sound but the Atlantic is much better. You can take it from a sandy beach right from the surf.
Even though that tank may be NSW I don't see any SPS in there (you're in the SPS forum Paul)
buzzy
New member
I just added it straight to the sump when doing a water change, would do a 50ltr change each week. Had great growth and good color too. In winter it was harder to collect nice clean water because of the rain and run off etc. If i was adding more than 50ltrs i would warm it with a heater to avoid a temp swing.
keith sprague
New member
This tank was started with NSW and I only used NSW for water changes.
It is now empty, I had it for 1,5 years but now I have upgraded.
This was an awesome tank, everything grew and flourished.
SWeeet !! all NSW huh. what do you do to prepare your water? or do you just add it? and any cons you've had with NSW?
keith sprague
New member
same ? for you do you filter,put your water in the dark,any prep before you add your water? i personally will be hesitant to just add seawater without any filtration.
Alex T.
Active member
Keith, the inquisitive side of me wanted to see just what I was dealing with close to home. I went out to the Longport jetty a few hours ago with a clean Tupperware container and gathered a liter of water. It was so damn cold!!!!
I brought it home and heated it to 78 degrees. To my surprise, i calculated the following parameters:
Specific Gravity: 1.023 (I thought NSW was 1.0264) Calibrated Refractometer
Alkalinity: 5 dKH (API)
Calcium: 370 (Salifert)
Magnesium: 1190
NO3: 0.2 (Salifert)
PO4: .06 (Hannameter)
So, as you can see the "good old blue" isn't necessarily better around here. Also, I'm not confident that the PO4 wouldn't change throughout the year. With all the golf courses and pretty lawns around here in the summer time, the runoff fertilizer could wreak havoc on our systems. And adding any measurable phosphate and nitrate to our systems for a water change would simply cause a buildup of these nutrients and create all sorts of problems. Personally, I wish I could do it, but the risk seems to outweigh the reward.
After testing a batch of my Reef Crystals mixing for a water change in a few days, it tested as follows:
SG: 1.026
Calcium: 440
Alkalinity: 8
Magnesium 1320
NO3: 0
PO4: 0
I think I'm sticking with the Reef Crystals...at least as long as I have an SPS tank.
I brought it home and heated it to 78 degrees. To my surprise, i calculated the following parameters:
Specific Gravity: 1.023 (I thought NSW was 1.0264) Calibrated Refractometer
Alkalinity: 5 dKH (API)
Calcium: 370 (Salifert)
Magnesium: 1190
NO3: 0.2 (Salifert)
PO4: .06 (Hannameter)
So, as you can see the "good old blue" isn't necessarily better around here. Also, I'm not confident that the PO4 wouldn't change throughout the year. With all the golf courses and pretty lawns around here in the summer time, the runoff fertilizer could wreak havoc on our systems. And adding any measurable phosphate and nitrate to our systems for a water change would simply cause a buildup of these nutrients and create all sorts of problems. Personally, I wish I could do it, but the risk seems to outweigh the reward.
After testing a batch of my Reef Crystals mixing for a water change in a few days, it tested as follows:
SG: 1.026
Calcium: 440
Alkalinity: 8
Magnesium 1320
NO3: 0
PO4: 0
I think I'm sticking with the Reef Crystals...at least as long as I have an SPS tank.
James404
I <3 Acros
I thought RC dKh was about 13 at 1.026?
pimp2daizzo
Active member
lol you live in new j....wat do you think the water would be nice??? i remeber swimming in it when i was younger at the shore
keith sprague
New member
alex your a mad man LOL. i started another thread on this and after hearing from Cliff he pretty much allready made up my mind not to. And you just confirmed it with them parameters.Along with cliff's micro scare ill stick to using RC salt too.now if you can just a wet suit on and get just about 30 more yards out, for another test that would be cool. LOL!!! just for the heck of it ill post parameters of barnegat light inlet to compare with longport.Just for fun.
Alex T.
Active member
Sounds good Keith. I know others have posted to collect it from close to the sandy shore but that's actually the most turbulent and nutrient laden zone you can collect seawater from.
I'm sure that if you go out into the Atlantic and collect it a good distance offshore you will have cleaner readings.
I'm sure that if you go out into the Atlantic and collect it a good distance offshore you will have cleaner readings.
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