Natural Seawater

[Rjramos]

My NSW is collected right over the reef and used within 3 days between 4 tanks I maintain. But I think I would store and circulate if I had a big tank.

 

[Paul B]

Nice thanks. Makes sense. How do you think that effects natural stains of bacteria in the water?

I would imagine the bacteria die of boredom (and starvation) Bacteria will re grow again in your tank very fast. If you throw a leg of lamb in your tank, in a couple of hours the water will look like "Half and Half". That is because bacteria multiply faster than an abacus. (google it)
I like to add the live bacteria from the NSW so even if you plan to store it, suck some of the settlement from the bottom of your buckets and throw that in your tank or better yet, when you collect it, take some of the mud, sand or Oldsmobile parts you find on the substrate and use that for bacteria.

After you collect NSW it will cloud up in a couple of days. That is from dead bacteria. But it will clear soon and be great to use.

 

[Salty.Reefer]

I would imagine the bacteria die of boredom (and starvation) Bacteria will re grow again in your tank very fast. If you throw a leg of lamb in your tank, in a couple of hours the water will look like "Half and Half". That is because bacteria multiply faster than an abacus. (google it)
I like to add the live bacteria from the NSW so even if you plan to store it, suck some of the settlement from the bottom of your buckets and throw that in your tank or better yet, when you collect it, take some of the mud, sand or Oldsmobile parts you find on the substrate and use that for bacteria.

After you collect NSW it will cloud up in a couple of days. That is from dead bacteria. But it will clear soon and be great to use.

Thanks for that. It totally makes sense that they can multiply very quickly. Bring my back to the party dish days of high school biology.

 

[hart24601]

Clearly many sources of collected salt water are fine and I would use them if I could. I however, don't like the all our animals come from ocean salt water so it's fine argument. That is very true if you live on a coral reef or a place where your tank inhabitants are collected, but for many of us that is a bit of a stretch. I mean I have fish from the amazon in my FW tanks, but if I used my contaminated Iowa water they wouldn't last very long.

 

[Bracka345]

Do you house swap?!!

Come visit, i have a spare bedroom.

 

[DaveMorris]

We are using natural seawater for everyone at MACNA this year. We are getting it from Catalina Saltwater delivered right to show site. Catalina Water company takes in seawater off shore near LA/Long Beach area and filters it, hits it with ozone and UV, and buffers it if necessary. They supply most of the wholesalers and seafood wholesalers in Southern California. Many of us here in SoCal use NSW in our tanks and I have never heard of a documented problem doing so.