ocean water in reef tanks?

[lockrookie]

this is probably a dumb thread for discussion i was just curious in my infinate boredom.

i was wondering if anyone (whom lived near the ocean being land locked in sask its not an option) has used actuall seawater to run thier hobby tank. you would think it would be the ideal water (given its clear enough to begin with) to grow the ideal habitat rather than mixing salts.

like i mentioned this may be a stupid idea thats popped into my tiny brain but if a company sold say hawian seawater in a bottle. would we as reefers buy such a thing to begin with? or do they actually sell such a beast already.

[The Grizz]

OH I think someone is very very very bored

It is something to ponder though..........

[lockrookie]

i know really i never start random threads i just lurk like a (PET)afile drooling over everyones fish tanks. getting ideas and sending ppl links to the things they are looking for.. but i haad a thought for once. lol

[globaldesigns]

I think the problem would be (as you stated) getting clean water. You would probably have to be quite aways from shore and also be deep enough to get the cleanest water possible. I would not know these details, but I don't think it would be feasible for anyone like us.

I guess if you have the location and the money, you can do anything.

[Megalodon]

I know of people doing it. In fact that's what a lot of professional aquariums do, at least the ones near a shore, Vancouver Aquarium being an example. They don't mess with IO they get the real deal.

The main thing that would concern me are pollutants. Also, being from cold water here in Canada I wonder if parasites and bacteria would be a problem in a tropical environment or if it would all die.

Other than that, what better source of sea water than real sea water?

[hillegom]

I think it would be a very good idea. But you would have to get the water from somewhere away from urban areas, away from pollution.

[daniella3d]

It will work as long as you don't live in the Golf of Mexico, or other very polluted places. I have read of people taking this natural water but a mile off shore to avoid pollution. I would think it's ideal water.

It's just very heavy and transportation would probably be a problem. If I lived near the ocean, right on the beach, I would maybe try to get a very long hose as much away from the shore as possible and pump it in with a powerfull pump but I would have it fully tested before using it.

Originally Posted by lockrookie

this is probably a dumb thread for discussion i was just curious in my infinate boredom.

i was wondering if anyone (whom lived near the ocean being land locked in sask its not an option) has used actuall seawater to run thier hobby tank. you would think it would be the ideal water (given its clear enough to begin with) to grow the ideal habitat rather than mixing salts.

like i mentioned this may be a stupid idea thats popped into my tiny brain but if a company sold say hawian seawater in a bottle. would we as reefers buy such a thing to begin with? or do they actually sell such a beast already.

[Wingin It]

i say, just build a hut over the ocean, and put in a glass floor. Problem solved! lol

[mike31154]

....and there are hobbyists out there that use..gasp... natural sunlight to light their glass boxes. Search SolarTubes and see what you find. Up here past the 49th parallel, you'll still need some supplementation though, especially during the short winter days. Wouldn't need much extra for a FOWLR though.

[Chipie]

I live right by the Atlantic Ocean and have used Natural sea water without any problems. Salinity is at 1.022 so i have to add a bit of salt to bring it to 1.026. There's quite a few reefers from the Maritime provinces that use it. Where i live, there's not much pollution so i just get mine off a fishing warf on Miscou Island(15 min from my house) Google map Miscou Island