Using NSW from Monterey Bay

[coral_lagoon]

Anyone here in Monterey County CA? I was thinking about getting some fresh sea water from Pacific Grove , Asilomar .. The water is very clean here. So I was wondering if that would benefit my reef. This will be my 1st time using NSW, all my years Ive been using only sea salt mixes. With that said, should I skim the NSW for a few days before using it? Thanks...

 

[LockeOak]

I would try and get some good data on salinity. I don't know anything about Monterey Bay, but sometimes bays have some salinity swings. Florida Bay can swing anywhere from below 30ppt in heavy rains to around 45ppt in the dry season, I believe, though it's very shallow and Monterey Bay probably is much more stable. That said, even if the water is slightly off if you're just using it for water changes you could add a bit of salt or DI water to correct it.

 

[BlueTangarang]

I've had friends use Asilomar water in their tanks without too much hassle, though it was mainly in fish only and mild reef tanks. Your phosphates and nitrates may go up due to all the temperate organisms dying off. Any filtering or skimming before hand will definitely help.

Also, the Monterey Bay Aquarium uses local sea water in their main reef tanks, and it is pumped in at whatever the water temp may be (46-54'F) and heated in the tank itself or sump. Now, it does go through an intense routine of filtering that is monitored not by the aquarists but by a whole team of control people that sit down in the basement. You name it, and this water gets it: skimming, UV sterilizers, ozone, sand bed, carbon, etc, etc.

 

[Ben_Im]

Just be sure to allow the NSW to see light, otherwise all the photoplankton will die off causing a slight ammonia spike. Skim and test before using, but other than that, I don't see why you shouldn't use NSW.

 

[BlueTangarang]

OK, so scratch half of my last post. The water that the aquarium uses in their tropical tanks only goes through a bio filter before being used, deep sand bed in this case, and goes into the Kelp Forest tank first. After that it drains via gravity to the tropical tanks with no further filtering. The bigger coral exhibits do have skimmers on them though. God bless Marine Sanctuaries.

 

[GreshamH]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15424399#post15424399 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BlueTangarang
OK, so scratch half of my last post. The water that the aquarium uses in their tropical tanks only goes through a bio filter before being used, deep sand bed in this case, and goes into the Kelp Forest tank first. After that it drains via gravity to the tropical tanks with no further filtering. The bigger coral exhibits do have skimmers on them though. God bless Marine Sanctuaries.

But the water doesn't exit with out properly being treated (to the Bay that is).

I've never had any issues with MB water. The Bay is hardly like other bays, our extremely deep canyon makes sure of that Half Moon bay water in the other hand does change in salinity and at times does have elevated nutrients

If you're on the Monterey side your even better off

 

[coral_lagoon]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15425753#post15425753 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GreshamH
But the water doesn't exit with out properly being treated (to the Bay that is).

I've never had any issues with MB water. The Bay is hardly like other bays, our extremely deep canyon makes sure of that Half Moon bay water in the other hand does change in salinity and at times does have elevated nutrients

If you're on the Monterey side your even better off

Did you use MB water straight? Or did you skim it? I would like to know your steps. Thanks..

 

[GreshamH]

When I used it I just passed it through a 20 micron filter. No skimming. Never had a PO4 problem from critters dying off.

Friend uses it after allowing it to sit (decant) for a day, then uses only the surface water with out disturbing the lower portion.

FWIW at the time I was doing LPS and softies only.....well, some digi as well. Since going full blown sps I haven't used it.

For FO there is nothing like it. I used to work in wholesale Mo and we'd used NSW (HMB). The fish always reacted better to it then ASW. Lower DOA/DAA, more active fish and the colors seemed to be more vibrant then fish housed in ASW.