I live on the coast (Australia) but have always been advised using water straight from the sea is bad for my Reef Tank. What are your thoughts? If I do should I filter it in any way? I know I'll have to add RO to adjust the salinity....
Natural seawater
- Thread starter Hely'sreef1
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lou dog420
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I have seen some beautiful reefs on here that use natural sea water. I would say as long as its not in a polluted area it would be great.
Douglas Wattier
Community Member
I live on the coast in the US and thought about the same thing. But after reading a lot about it, the coast line is full of pollutants from people being in the water, boats traveling, etc.. It stated that if you could get a little ways out you should be fine, but keep away from traffic areas.
Dogtown
Active Member
I've actually thought about this scenario and what I would do if presented with the opportunity. If I lived on oceanfront beach away from a major city so that pollution wasn't a concern, I'd use true Natural Salt Water (NSW) in a heartbeat. I'd set up my system to do a 2 gallon per day, slow, continuous, automated water change. I'd treat the slow moving, incoming NSW with a high powered Ozone Generator that would take the treated water to a redox level of above 500. It dissipates quickly so at a slow rate this would not be an issue. I'd also vent all of the exhaust outside of the house for safety sake. At a slow continuous treatment rate like this, I'd have parasite free, inexpensive NSW and continuous water changes forever. But I'm an IT tech dude and tend to embellish one of a kind ideas like this. 
I've been doing WC's with Bay water from my marina at high tide for the last 3 yrs. usually the incoming water is best, its cleaner, coming in from the ocean. If the water has any pollution, such as oil or gas fuel, you will see it on the surface, go to another area. Hair algae will be a problem a little, but I remove it from tank glass during a WC, my local CUC now takes care of the algae.
I wouldn't use this water for my reef tank with corals, my local tank has no corals just fish, sponges, inverts.
I wouldn't use this water for my reef tank with corals, my local tank has no corals just fish, sponges, inverts.
