NSW handling?

[rovster]

Thought this would be an informative thread. There have been a few posts on NSW recently, and was hoping some of you that use it could give your feedback, and more importantly, give some tips on proper handling and storage. I don't plan on switching any time soon, but I'm genuinely curious.

I have heard that with NSW, you definitely want to keep it covered and circulating. I know there is an organic component to it (all the little critters and bacteria not found in ASW), and that is the reason you cannot let it go stagnant. How long can it be stored? Does it need to be temperature controlled? Do you need to aerate it?

Any tips on keys to success and potential pitfalls would be great. Thanks!

 

[gatoralum69]

Since I have so many LFS close to me...I just go the same day I will do water change

 

[stagcrazy]

here is my method i have done this with all my tanks get the water from the lfs adjust salinity to those of my tank drink a beer change the first 5 gallons drink another beer and repeat this seems to work best for me

 

[cadugauch]

here is my method i have done this with all my tanks get the water from the lfs adjust salinity to those of my tank drink a beer change the first 5 gallons drink another beer and repeat this seems to work best for me

be careful after a couple of beers and make sure you don't invert...drink water and dose beer LOL

 

[rovster]

OK, maybe I should be more specific. For those of you that buy large quantities at a time, and keep some on hand for a couple of changes, and or emergencies, how do you do it LOL!

To the gator.....did you read my origional post? LMAO, thanks for nothing!:mixed:

 

[gatoralum69]

LOL....well that is why I said I just get right away...anyways I have seen people just leave outside and just turn on a pump once a day for 15-30 min. Of course before changing the water out you would need to adjust salinity to your tank.

 

[xchandlerx]

here is my method i have done this with all my tanks get the water from the lfs adjust salinity to those of my tank drink a beer change the first 5 gallons drink another beer and repeat this seems to work best for me

A beer every 5 gallons, if you 300+ gallon tank might have a nice buzz by the time your done with your water change I'd have a water changing party weekly!

 

[roblack]

I've used nsw that sat around in 5 gallon jugs for at least 2 weeks, no circulation, and no problems. Most of the chemical composition should stay the same. The level of die off in nsw shouldn't throw off a healthy tank when doing a 20 - 25% water change.

 

[billsreef]

The stuff is already millions of year old, so it can sit quite awhile. If your collecting unfiltered water, you want to use it right away, keep it circulating and aerated, or store it in the dark for a few weeks. The dark storage (for at least 2 weeks) will allow stuff to die off and the bacteria to deal with any resulting ammonia. You can keep it sealed up and stored in the dark for as long as you need, just aerate it before use Temp doesn't matter for storage either, just be sure it's reasonably close to your tank temp when you do the water change.

 

[120reefermadnes]

The stuff is already millions of year old, so it can sit quite awhile. If your collecting unfiltered water, you want to use it right away, keep it circulating and aerated, or store it in the dark for a few weeks. The dark storage (for at least 2 weeks) will allow stuff to die off and the bacteria to deal with any resulting ammonia. You can keep it sealed up and stored in the dark for as long as you need, just aerate it before use Temp doesn't matter for storage either, just be sure it's reasonably close to your tank temp when you do the water change.

+1 all I have ever used is NSW from my start in the hobby, a friend that got me started in all this used it also for many years with great results so I followed suit and have access to as much water I can pump up and hall 2!!!

 

[Joshporksandwic]

After the fire in my house i used nsw for a few months i just threw a pump inside the tank and used for 2 months after the 3rd month the alk went to 5 so i stopped using.

 

[Siptang]

Josh is baccccck!

 

[rovster]

The stuff is already millions of year old, so it can sit quite awhile. If your collecting unfiltered water, you want to use it right away, keep it circulating and aerated, or store it in the dark for a few weeks. The dark storage (for at least 2 weeks) will allow stuff to die off and the bacteria to deal with any resulting ammonia. You can keep it sealed up and stored in the dark for as long as you need, just aerate it before use Temp doesn't matter for storage either, just be sure it's reasonably close to your tank temp when you do the water change.

I heard this, and was confused about it, and I'm still confused (I'm a little slow:bigeyes.

Questions:
1. What do you mean by unfiltered water. Isn't all collected watered unfiltered by definition? How and with what do you filter it?
2. If you store in the dark and let things die off resulting in ammonia, why on earth would you want to put that in your tank? Or is your tanks biofilter enough to handle this ammonia? The die off doesn't foul the water?

Thanks:uhoh3:

 

[novahobbies]

It's cool that this just popped up today. I have 20g of NSW that's been sitting in my house in sealed jugs for about 2 weeks. I was all set to do a water change tonight, but started worrying about the quality of the water. So I just did filter changes, but I was about to dump the water.

Do you still think it's fine? I buy filtered NSW from Barrier Reef. I'll dump it if I need too...I'd rather waste $15 worth of water than hundreds of dollars of livestock.

 

[FoxInSox]

I heard this, and was confused about it, and I'm still confused (I'm a little slow:bigeyes.

Questions:
1. What do you mean by unfiltered water. Isn't all collected watered unfiltered by definition? How and with what do you filter it?
2. If you store in the dark and let things die off resulting in ammonia, why on earth would you want to put that in your tank? Or is your tanks biofilter enough to handle this ammonia? The die off doesn't foul the water?

Thanks:uhoh3:

The best system I've seen thus far is by one of the guys on here with the 600g or so aquarium. He had a large tower that held everything and constantly circulated the water.

Some of the more strict keepers route their water through carbon to remove any contaminants. You shouldn't see much/any die off as long as you have movement in your storage tank and the time to transfer isn't extended.

Of course you could always take the route less traveled and not change your water...like me.

 

[billsreef]

I heard this, and was confused about it, and I'm still confused (I'm a little slow:bigeyes.

Questions:
1. What do you mean by unfiltered water. Isn't all collected watered unfiltered by definition? How and with what do you filter it?
2. If you store in the dark and let things die off resulting in ammonia, why on earth would you want to put that in your tank? Or is your tanks biofilter enough to handle this ammonia? The die off doesn't foul the water?

Thanks:uhoh3:

If you just grab your water via bucket or pump and dump it straight into a transport container, than yes it's unfiltered. However, you can easily set up a cartridge filter and pump the water through that filter to filter it at whatever level you choose Even a large funnel with some filter floss will be sufficient to filter out large stuff like seaweed, fish larvae, crab zoea, etc.

The amount of ammonia created from the die off of plankton will be minimal, and the bacteria in the water and container surfaces will be adequate to remove it...good old fashioned biological filtration at it's simplest. Hence the need to store it for 2 weeks or longer if not used immediately before that die off occurs....allows time for that biofiltration.

It's cool that this just popped up today. I have 20g of NSW that's been sitting in my house in sealed jugs for about 2 weeks. I was all set to do a water change tonight, but started worrying about the quality of the water. So I just did filter changes, but I was about to dump the water.

Do you still think it's fine? I buy filtered NSW from Barrier Reef. I'll dump it if I need too...I'd rather waste $15 worth of water than hundreds of dollars of livestock.

Your water will fine. If in doubt, give it a quick ammonia test. Being filtered NSW from a store, I expect there will have been nothing to die off and cause any sort of ammonia rose at any point in time during storage

The best system I've seen thus far is by one of the guys on here with the 600g or so aquarium. He had a large tower that held everything and constantly circulated the water.

Some of the more strict keepers route their water through carbon to remove any contaminants. You shouldn't see much/any die off as long as you have movement in your storage tank and the time to transfer isn't extended.

Of course you could always take the route less traveled and not change your water...like me.

Even circulated SW will have die off from the zooplankton that depends on the rapidly depleted phytoplankton However, in the circulated and aerated set up (especially a permanent sort of set up) will see biofiltration handle that die off rapidly enough to prevent any issues. As for carbon use on freshly collected or stored NSW, IMO it's overkill. Unless your collecting in a polluted harbor, commercial salt mixes all have much higher levels of metals.

 

[marke]

I have been using nsw only for many years. I store 100 gal for a month sometimes with no problems. I use to run a pump for an hour a day. Pump died and have been using without circulation for a year now. No issues No need to over complicate things. Test the first few times to convince yourself. Nsw usually comes low in calcium and magnesium for my system so test and adjust accordingly My nsw is unfiltered. Container is kept outside and covered.

 

[Siptang]

I think I will do this when I move and have an actual back yard. Get a huge container like you and matt.

 

[yachtdr22]

Greetings all,
i live in Corpus Christi, TX on the gulf coast. I live on a canal adjacent to the ICW.
An abundance of NSW.... However, I am ... scared to use it... i feel like it is playing Russian roulette. I am looking for more info before i go live with my new system.

 

[Gillguy]

My understanding always was that if you store NSW for a while you can use it but don't pump the water from the bottom because that's where all the dead bacteria is at.