Water Changes using NSW from White Rock

dare2dv8 · #1 09-14-2012, 04:18 AM

Question I'm pondering is would nsw contain micro fauna in the water column that would be of benefit to corals and other inhabitants. Also wondering if it would contain a more natural diversity of bacteria that periodically added to a tank would help with the overall health.

I realize it's a debated practice that's why I asked if someone had been using it locally and to what results.

Aquattro · #2 09-14-2012, 04:28 AM

I think the local plankton would be temperature acclimated and die off at our tropical temps. As I said, a friend of mine used it for a long time on his large tank, taking water from about 100ft offshore, and now that he's moved to artificial salt, his tank is doing much better growth and color wise.
Coupled with the risk of some unknown contaminant, I wouldn't risk it on my display tank.

MKLKT · #3 09-14-2012, 05:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aquattro

I think the local plankton would be temperature acclimated and die off at our tropical temps. As I said, a friend of mine used it for a long time on his large tank, taking water from about 100ft offshore, and now that he's moved to artificial salt, his tank is doing much better growth and color wise.
Coupled with the risk of some unknown contaminant, I wouldn't risk it on my display tank.

This and the fact that the stuff in the water here is made to operate at a much slower pace. If the bacteria are different it might be a totally different ballgame at higher temperatures. It's just a waste if you have to supplement as now the levels may not be balanced easily. Remember that most of the crud and oils are on the surface (why it's good to skim the surface in your aquarium) so you'll basically be taking a whole ocean's junk pile and putting it in your tank.

tang daddy · #4 09-15-2012, 01:02 AM

If we were near any coral reefs I would say it's safe, being that the only things growing is 8 legged starfish and barnacles of the docks of white rock.... One would wonder how beneficial it would be, also I reckon you water maybe alittle murky.

reefwars · #5 09-15-2012, 01:05 AM

i tried it for a bit back east , you can bet that didnt last long...getting the water was a pain in the butt as was trucking it back home.

my salinity was always low at 1.012 -1.015

water was also very green from algae blooms, so t had to be filtered and skimmed before even using it:P

i love salt in a bucket:P