Using real salt water in Vancouver
 

Has anyone in Vancouver tried using real saltwater for water changes? I would assume it would be collected offshore....there is such a plankton rich source at our doorstep

There is also a nutrient/pollution rich source at our doorstep as well. Would you risk your system that probably cost you thousands of dollars for a little extra plankton? :)

The Vancouver Aquarium, I've been told, will sell you a tanker of filtered seawater but I think you have to order 100s of gallons at least. Even they think straight seawater from these parts are not a good idea, so I wouldn't either.

Anthony

As well the salintiy of the water is around 1.018, you would need to collect from the west side of Vacouver Island to get a higher salinity from what I have been told.

I was curious because of story on ReefCentral about a number of people using seawater a mile off the coast of New York City for the past few years with no ill effects. I wish I could set up a 20G and see...I would think the water on the NW coast of the island would be a better choice...its not like ther is such a thing as clean seawater in any ocean in the world! I know, not the same as a tank!

I would be worried about the plankton that's used to temperate waters dieing off when the temperature is rased for your reef tank.

just fill up a 20g with fish and inverts off the vancouver shore since they will be used to living in the "poluted water"

how much?
 

Anthony
do you know how much they sell 100 gallon for?

Not sure Chin, but I think it wasn't just for 100g. You had to order 500+g if I remember correctly. cc_bruno was looking into it & if I remember correctly, it would have worked out to almost the same as buying salt mix, maybe a little cheaper. I'll ask him & send you the details.

Anthony

I was using NSW when I first started out. The stuff I was using was filtered and pasteurized and it grew algae like you wouldn't believe. Personally I wouldn't recommend it unless you're getting it from way offshore and down deep.

Christy :)