ocean water in reef tanks?

lockrookie · #1 09-09-2010, 04:54 AM

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 · #2 09-09-2010, 05:04 AM

OH I think someone is very very very bored

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

lockrookie · #3 09-09-2010, 05:10 AM

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 · #4 09-09-2010, 05:15 AM

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 · #5 09-09-2010, 05:28 AM

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 · #6 09-09-2010, 05:39 AM

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.

fkshiu · #7 09-09-2010, 05:43 AM

The main problem is access. As you know, water is very heavy. Lugging huge containers of it from boat to shore to car to your house is a huge hassle even if you live right next to the water. Van Aquarium has the luxury of having a built-in pumping/filtration station on site. Not many people could afford to install something like that.

Raven34 · #8 09-09-2010, 05:47 AM

People live on the coast do it all the time, even if there is some toxins in the water it would be .000001 parts per million. LA fish guy on Youtube does all his water changes from the ocean.

lastlight · #9 09-09-2010, 06:04 AM

If you search for "natural seawater" on RC you'll have more reading than you can handle. Seems to be many doing it with good results but many concerns are voiced over the source, pollutants and the consistency of the water over time.

daniella3d · #10 09-10-2010, 11:40 PM

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.

Quote:

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.