NSW - Should I filter it?

[beachsidereefer]

HI Folks,

Kicking around the idea of switching to NSW for water changes on my 200G. I live close the ocean so it's easily accessible and I've read it's best to collect during high tide.

Question is would it be at all helpful to run it through the sediment filter and carbon block of my RO/DI filter to remove impurities or just dump it in the tank and let me carbon reactor and filter sock take care of it?

Thanks!

 

[zemuss]

intersting.. [HASHTAG]#reefsquad[/HASHTAG]

 

[twilliard]

Isn't saltwater close to the shore high in pollutants ?

 

[Shep]

I would not, it would be high in pollutants (things that are most likely toxic to your system) and plus if you are that close to shore you have freshwater run off that could alter the salinity. Also if you are going to go through the trouble of filtering it, why not just make your won saltwater? (oh and there is so much crap in the water that you would burn through filter units)

 

[Squid]

Isn't saltwater close to the shore high in pollutants ?

Absolutely. We get free nsw here in San Diego but is is collected from deep within a canyon then filtered through giant sand filters.

 

[mtfish]

I use NSW and do not filter. I do let it sit for a couple of days before using and try not to pump right off the bottom of my holding tank. If I did filter, I would use a fine sediment filter and not carbon as I would not want to remove any of the good stuff that comes with natural water. There is always a risk using real seawater, but I think the benefits out-way the risk.

 

[Squid]

I use NSW and do not filter. I do let it sit for a couple of days before using and try not to pump right off the bottom of my holding tank. If I did filter, I would use a fine sediment filter and not carbon as I would not want to remove any of the good stuff that comes with natural water. There is always a risk using real seawater, but I think the benefits out-way the risk.

Have you ever tested the nsw your using? Chances are your doing more harm then good but this is variable to where your collecting

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I think it depends on where you collect it.

I have collected water from the beach here in Rockport, MA, where the water is quite clean and used it without any treatment,

My primary reason for collecting it is to provide a new set of bacterial and microbial populations, and filtering it would be counter productive.

However, if you intend to store it, I'd filter it to remove organic matter and organisms that may die and stagnate the water.

 

[beachsidereefer]

yes, I figured there must be some impurities so I thought removing it via a sediment/ carbon block would take care of these issue.

Thanks all for the posts!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

The concerns that wouldn't be removed, or in some cases, might actually be removed too much, are heavy metal contaminants. Whether they are removed may depend partly on how they are complexed to organic matter.

 

[Paul B]

I started my reef with NSW and I collected 30 gallons today. Normally I don't do much to it except heat it up and add some ASW because here in New York it is very weak and cold. Today it was very turbid and had a lot of black particles, jellyfish, fish and shrimp in it so I used a diatom filter to strain it. Now it is crystal clear.
I collected it near here in the Atlantic.



Of course, where you come from, you would have to strain out any manatees you inadvertently collect.