Using seawater

[chefrt]

I like to use seawater to change my aquarium water, is this good ideas or batter to used mixed salt with RO water. Since my house 15 mints to the sea I would like to try to use seawater. Can I collect water from the beach of do I have to go a bit further to collect the water?

 

[djr2001]

I would think the water that close to the shore would be tainted. IF you are set on using sea water, I'd head further off shore.....

 

[Fast Fred]

Commercial salt mixes are definately safer. However, some folks have had great success with NSW. If you insist on using NSW, either try to go off-shore a bit, or at least find an area like an inlet where the water is moving swiftly, and collect the water on the incoming tide.

 

[PelagicMagic]

yes go further offshore where run-off and pollutants are less concentrated. I had used NSW for my tank over 2 yrs and never had a problem. I got my water from a marine lab thatââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s in/on St. Augustine beach. They have a pipe that goes far out into the ocean. Now that I am starting to keep more sps corals I choose not the risk it and mix my own. You also get higher levels of trace elements with mixing your own water.

 

[chefrt]

Thank for the advice, this evening I will be take a boat ride to open sea to collect the water. I think to change the whole tank water with seawater. This will be about 20% of water for every week. It will take about 5 week to complete the changing and after that it will be 20% change for every month.

Thank again.