Mixed salt or natural seawater ?

miamiangler · Mar 18, 2015

I have been wondering how many SPS tanks are running on natural sea water or mixed salt ? I have always used natural sea water because it is easy to get . I do get some good growth on my corals .I`m thinking of trying the mixed salt on my tanks . The tanks on this forum that have SPS with great growth are they using mixed salt water ? If so which brand and how often do you do WC. I don`t know how to do the poll thing ,but would like to see some results .

Thanks

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 18, 2015

I don't keep an SPS tank with NSW, but I think that if you can get good quality NSW at a reasonable price, I'd use it. I have added some NSW that I collected myself to my tank, but that was primarily to bring in some possibly new types of bacteria and other microorganisms.

I'd just advise to be careful where you collect it (water close to shore can be contaminated), and make sure it isn't exposed to any metal (e.g., brass) pipes or fittings after collection.

BPiers · Mar 18, 2015

I'm in Miami also...heavy load of SPS in my tanks. I've switched to using mixed almost exclusively. I know the water I make is pure, and its important for the new water not to be 85 degrees coming into my tank during a WC.
You can buy the good salts on sale and its more economical.

miamiangler said:
I have been wondering how many SPS tanks are running on natural sea water or mixed salt ? I have always used natural sea water because it is easy to get . I do get some good growth on my corals .I`m thinking of trying the mixed salt on my tanks . The tanks on this forum that have SPS with great growth are they using mixed salt water ? If so which brand and how often do you do WC. I don`t know how to do the poll thing ,but would like to see some results .

Thanks

miamiangler · Mar 18, 2015

I usually get 35gals of NSW two hours before high tide ,but I always make sure it`s the same temp as my tank water . After switching to mixed saltwater do you notice better growth of your SPS`s?

miamiangler · Mar 18, 2015

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
I don't keep an SPS tank with NSW, but I think that if you can get good quality NSW at a reasonable price, I'd use it. I have added some NSW that I collected myself to my tank, but that was primarily to bring in some possibly new types of bacteria and other microorganisms.

I'd just advise to be careful where you collect it (water close to shore can be contaminated), and make sure it isn't exposed to any metal (e.g., brass) pipes or fittings after collection.

Hello Randy

I like reading all your posts , Most of the time when I collect my water it is way offshore when the fish are not biting

. but lately I have been getting it at my inlet on an incoming tide and I wait 4 hours so the water coming in is very clear .. The main Question I am asking is the great coral growth that I see from some of the reefers on this forum due to the mixed salt water having more minerals in it compaired to NSW .I know it takes time for corals to grow ,but some of the photo`s that show a couple of months growth are amazing .I just don't see it on my tanks .

iloveswfish · Mar 18, 2015

i use instant ocean and i have had good growth

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 19, 2015

miamiangler said:
Hello Randy

I like reading all your posts , Most of the time when I collect my water it is way offshore when the fish are not biting . but lately I have been getting it at my inlet on an incoming tide and I wait 4 hours so the water coming in is very clear .. The main Question I am asking is the great coral growth that I see from some of the reefers on this forum due to the mixed salt water having more minerals in it compaired to NSW .I know it takes time for corals to grow ,but some of the photo`s that show a couple of months growth are amazing .I just don't see it on my tanks .

I'd guess it is something else than the water. You are maintaining calcium and alkalinity? I think most salts have more trace elements than the ocean, but I've not ever heard of a problem using it.

BPiers · Mar 19, 2015

I use IO also. It's cheap and since I dose 3 part so heavily it doesn't make any sense for me to pay extra for 'enhanced levels of' whatever. I do my own enhancement

I haven't noticed any difference in growth with using NSW or if I make my own. I've noticed a lot more growth relative to Ca, Alk, Mg levels.