Water changes: mix or natural seawater

The 'sea urchin larvae study' has been very controversial. After the orignal article was published, everyone tried to switch over to the Bioassay formula salt, and the result was numerous sps tanks crashing hard. RTN, total losses. We're talking long term hobbyists including TOTM winners. Apparently something bad happened when that salt was mixed with other brands. I don't think the author of the article even recommends that salt anymore for reefs. The point is that it proves that it's the best salt for hatching/rearing sea urchin larvae, but proves nothing beyond that.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11741427#post11741427 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jeffbrig
The 'sea urchin larvae study' has been very controversial. After the orignal article was published, everyone tried to switch over to the Bioassay formula salt, and the result was numerous sps tanks crashing hard. RTN, total losses. We're talking long term hobbyists including TOTM winners. Apparently something bad happened when the salt was mixed with water mixed from other brands. I don't think the author of the article even recommends that salt anymore for reefs. The point is that it proves that it's the best salt for hatching/rearing sea urchin larvae, but proves nothing beyond that.
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I din`t know this good to know thanks :)
 
i use instant ocean only because its whats easiest for me to get and does the job..... i was using nsw and havnt noticd a differance since switching
 
I mix my own saltwater and would never go back to lugging water back and forth multiple times each week.

Honestly though, some of the NSW collecters "try" to perfectly arrive when the tide it coming in but they really don't know exactly when that is. Tides change and if you have to deliver salt water to a LFS and you are a few hours late because of whatever issues/problems do you think they are going to wait till the next day to get the water?

Probably not.

I will stick to my homemade mix.

-Matthew
 
Matthew,

I will probably have to disagree with you on your point. If youve done any kind of fishing you can check out tide charts. They pin point when youve got incomming tides or out going tides. They are pretty accurate and if your experienced using the tables you can get them down to within minutes.

I use to do alot of flats fishing and had to read the tide charts to catch the incomming tides at any given location to have success. So picking one spot and reading when the tide is comming wouldnt be necessarily too hard. Oh, and mother nature is usually never late!

Eric
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11745475#post11745475 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by flfireman1
Matthew,

I will probably have to disagree with you on your point. If youve done any kind of fishing you can check out tide charts. They pin point when youve got incomming tides or out going tides. They are pretty accurate and if your experienced using the tables you can get them down to within minutes.

I use to do alot of flats fishing and had to read the tide charts to catch the incomming tides at any given location to have success. So picking one spot and reading when the tide is comming wouldnt be necessarily too hard. Oh, and mother nature is usually never late!

Eric
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Well in any case if they had a flat tire, slept late, family emergency, or any of the millions of problems that could arise that would make them minutes to hours late to pick up water do you think they would wait until the next day?

I think not, case closed.

-Matthew
 
I use NSW water & I got to say Im pretty happy!! I have wondered of the convinience of of mixing my own water, but for now, I'll stick to NSW.
 
Depends on my degree of laziness. Some days I just don't feel like lugging sandy 50-lb buckets of water over the beach and to the car. Sometimes I need to do a water change and haven't thought ahead to mix salt water.

That's when it's nice to live a couple of miles from Eco-Reef...
 
Well in any case if they had a flat tire, slept late, family emergency, or any of the millions of problems that could arise that would make them minutes to hours late to pick up water do you think they would wait until the next day?
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The same arguement could be about the guy at the warehouse or lab making the seawater mix. What if he had a flat tire, or slept late, family emergency, or any other problem that could arise. You think he might be rushed to make the mix?

Thing is, from what I understand, you take your chances with both. Both are good options depending on the individual and what works for them. With no definitive, clear cut, better choice. Some people prefer one over the other. Some people like dogs more than cats. For the record, I like dogs better. Oh and I dont mind lugging around 5 gallon containers of NSW.
 
I collect my own water straight off Miami Beach at 47th St. Not out at sea in a boat, straight off the beach, just wade in and get it. I never check tide charts, I get it when it is convenient for me, usually in concert with a run on the boardwalk. The only time I don't collect is after a rain, due to run off. I am quite happy with my tanks, and have noticed no die off or ill effects. I have had three SPS die off from RTN, but I did not see a correlation between water change and onset. Just another data point.

Julian Sprung spoke about NSW and some of the myths out there, his bottom line, IIRC, was that the danger and contamination is way overstated by those that are afraid of it.
 
I collect my NSW from the Haulover Beach Inlet during High Tide. The inlet has a very fast moving current that seems to help keep the water very clean and clear. I am usually there at the beach every weekend anyway so for me its no big deal bringing a couple 5 gallon containers to collect my NSW for water change. I also found out recently that the LFS I go to also collects its water from the Haulover Beach Inlet. If your in the Miami Beach to North Miami Beach area you are probably going to the same LFS as I am, and getting that water as well.
 
we fill one of the live wells out in the gulf stream while fishing and use that. easy way to grab 60 gallons at a click.
 
Looks like right now is not the time to be collecting NSW here.
All the beaches from Pompano to Hallandale are closed down due to high levels of fecal coliform and enterococcus bacteria.

Hmmmm, I wonder if this giant sewage pipe off of Hollywood beach has anything to do with it?

altered%20poop%20chute-thumb.png
 
if we have to do water changes so do lfs. some of these lfs seem to sruggle. whos to say the arent selling the old nsw from their water changes ..................trust?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11800732#post11800732 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by loyalrogue
Hmmmm, I wonder if this giant sewage pipe off of Hollywood beach has anything to do with it?

altered%20poop%20chute-thumb.png
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Hmmmmm, if it's good enough for those divers, it's good enough for my fish!!! lol
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11801228#post11801228 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by prideprops
Hmmmmm, if it's good enough for those divers, it's good enough for my fish!!! lol
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Go on, stick out your tongue, have a taste... I double-dog dare ya. :p

But seriously, just in case anyone hasn't seen the news and is planning to drive down to the beach/inlet to collect NSW this weekend I would suggest waiting a little while longer or using salt mix till this bacterial "bloom" subsides.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11757830#post11757830 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by flfireman1
The same arguement could be about the guy at the warehouse or lab making the seawater mix. What if he had a flat tire, or slept late, family emergency, or any other problem that could arise. You think he might be rushed to make the mix?

Thing is, from what I understand, you take your chances with both. Both are good options depending on the individual and what works for them. With no definitive, clear cut, better choice. Some people prefer one over the other. Some people like dogs more than cats. For the record, I like dogs better. Oh and I dont mind lugging around 5 gallon containers of NSW.
Click to expand...

You must have never met the guys that actually collect the NSW. They don't have employees, coworkers, or an hourly wage. They are doing this completely on there own. They rush to get it and go the LFS and rush to take it out and go to get more. I am talking from my experience working at a LFS and talking with them everytime they came.

I bet they are still collecting water this week since the bacteria bloom has been going on.

-Matthew
 
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