Using NSW in your tank--precautions ?

[eljefe3]

I paln on pumping NSW into my aquarium and I was just wondering if there is any special conditions I need to look out for or any special treatment that I should give the water. I will be putting the water through a micron bag filter before it goes into the tank, but that's it until the tank filtration takes over. Thanks for the help.

 

[Chris L]

Here in South Florida, we take it directly from the ocean into our tanks without any treatment. Changing all of the water in my 180 gallon tank is better than any suppliments that I have added to date, the corals look better and the fish seem more active! If you are pulling water from a region that is not tropical, I would age the water first in a dark area to prevent any unwanted algae growth.

Chris

 

[skattabrain]

you lucky bastids!

 

[55Reef]

I've been using NSW for the entire life of my tank. I've never had any problems. Just make sure that the area where you collect the water is clean from any pollutants. Also try not to collect your water after it rains. Since most storm drains runoff into the ocean.

By the way where are you located??

Brian

 

[fishtanknut21]

I have been using NSW in my tanks for years and never had a problem, just get it from a clean area on an incoming tide.

 

[Chris L]

For all you guys that live in Florida, my salt water comes from Goverment Cut in Miami during the incoming tide :mixed: For you non-Floridians, Goverment Cut is THE shipping and cruise ship port in Miami which I find entertaining. I was shocked at first, but it has done wonders for my tank for the past 4 years.

 

[Teego]

I collect NSW on the north shore, north of Boston. And everything has been peachy keen. See below post.......

(sorry, as usual we tend to get off topic real fast in our posts )

NSW

 

[charliebetta]

I live in Salem! I never thought of using NSW! I'll have to check it out...where do you go in Beverly?

 

[eljefe3]

Thanks everyone. I used to use NSW from a marine bio lab in CA, but I believe that was filtered. Here I'll be the one pumping and filtering .

>>By the way where are you located??

Southern Thailand where the water is about 82

 

[asnatlas]

eljefe3, since it looks like you have been doing this for almost 3 yrs now can you go into some detail about the process...

 

[eljefe3]

I pump water up from in front of my house when it's high tide into a 1500 liter tank outside. I then filter it until it's clear, then let sit until I feel like doing a water change.

For a water change I turn off all pumps, then turn a valve and the water drains out into the earth about 5 feet down outside of the house. Then I turn on the pump from the holding tank which pumps the NSW into the house. All in all it takes about an hour to drain the water ( 1000 liters ) and pump in the new water.

So far I have only had one episode where the water was bad, but it killed off almost all of my fish, except the rarest and most expensive and a local 16 inch tang that I've had from day one. This episode taught me to only pump water when it's a very high tide assuring me that the water is relatively clean. I live in a bay where dive boats go out every day so there is some oil in the water and it accumulates in the well I have dug where I pump the water.