using seawater in my reef tank

[eco37]

 

[eco37]

 

[eco37]

NSW in WPB (east coast) Fl is:
1.025 -1.027 sg
8.2 PH
7 dkh
375 CA

 

[Paul B]

We should be saying "I am surprised anyone uses ASW.
I have been using NSW from New York right near the City since 1972. My fish got ich once in maybe in 1980 or so but I don't think it has anything to do with seawater.
All of your fish come from NSW. None of them come from ASW.
Like Duh
Whats the problem?

 

[tecoral]

Seems like many of you are in southern regions or areas where the temps are close to the temp you keep your tank. Will collection and necessary temperature increases to cold seawater hurt anything? Local watertemps are generally 50s in the summer and 30-40s in the winter. Im thinking about trying this on a 10 softy tank before I try it on the 125.

 

[billsreef]

It'll work just fine. So long as you remember to warm the water up before adding to your tropical tank

 

[tecoral]

Because of the extra time warming the water, would it be best to age it a couple weeks for settlement of the plankton or just warm it and go. Seems like ageing it just to let the dead plankton fall out of suspension shouldnt be that big a deal. All our aditives are dead also.
Just wondering.

 

[billsreef]

Depends on how much effort you want to spend warming it up. If you warm it up in a few hours, you can just warm it and go. Otherwise, I'd age it in the dark for two weeks first.

 

[tecoral]

Thanks Bill

 

[killagoby]

This sounds like the joke where a salesman goes to Mexico on vacation to go to the beach. He sees a fisherman relaxing there who is catching tons of fish. He tells the fisherman that he should buy a truck and drive to America to set up a fish market. The Mexican says, "why?" The salesman says so you can make alot of money. The Mexican says, "why". The salesman says because you can sell your fish there, make lots of money, retire, then go relax on the beach.

Maybe I'm just bored at work and reading too deep in to all of this NSW/ASW debate. lol

 

[Paul B]

UNless I am going to use the water with in a few hours I diatom filter it to remove the plankton that will die anyway. You could also strain it through a coffee filter.
Just don't use that filter for making coffee

 

[Stvladimirsaveu]

Yes, of course you can use NSW. I live near Edisto beach South Carolina. I use it for 10% water chages every week. The fish and corals seem to love it...the colors seem brighter.

In the winter months, I simply use a heater to warm the water and use it the same day. No filtering, no chemical adjustments.

I do keep some IO on hand in case of a storm at sea or if the water looks dirty but mostly, it's fresh Atlantic for my tank.

 

[roblack]

I don't think aging NSW for more than a day or two is good for reef tanks, organisms in it start to die off. I do slow water changes with small piping, so not much chance for a drastic temp change even if new water is much cooler (which usually it is not).

 

[billsreef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11218838#post11218838 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by roblack
I don't think aging NSW for more than a day or two is good for reef tanks, organisms in it start to die off.

The tricks are to use it within a day before the plankton starts to die, or filter it well for later use, or store it for 2 weeks in the dark and let that plankton die off floc out leaving you with cyrstal clear good water. Martin Moe has good info using NSW in his books.

 

[ScarabRa]

So I see your listed as living in KUWAIT??

How far are you from the Beach? Are you by a "bay" or a open coast line?

Is there many Local Fish Stores around your area?

Now my opinion to your question:
I also use, what we call out here in California USA "Real Ocean" water (a brand, sold at our LFS) Its supposedly "harvested" from far off shore (open water), and filtered with a diatom filter, and delivered weekly to our LFS's.

 

[Dadekster]

I also live in the Bay Area in CA about 45 miles from the Pacific...duh

Would warming up the water since it is freezing cold out here have any adverse effect to the life in it? I don't mean microwaving it of course, but warming it in a gradual manner using a heater to use within 3-6 hours or so? I have no clue if the life in the cold Pacific coast is suitable to be thrown into a warm water environment without causing nutrient spikes etc. I would love to have the advantage of NSW if possible but want to make sure this would be ok rather then shrug my shoulders and just hope it works.

 

[tecoral]

I asked this a little earlier, my NSW is in the 40s right now. Bill said we should be fine just warm it to our tanks temp and put it in as long as we use it in a day. That or store it for a couple weeks or filter well. Im going to try it on a nano first I think.

 

[Dadekster]

Yeah, saw it, was just hoping for more elaboration or some other West coast peeps with practical experience chiming in that it has been working for them.

 

[matt_54351]

i use nsw every chance i get, but then again i get it 30 miles off the coast in the gulf stream, in fishing terms known as blue water. i figure if the water is clear enough i can see a 2 inch bait 100-150ft down, its clear enough for my tank.