NSW vs SYNTHETIC

[Ash321]

So maybe a age old arguement but alot of fellow reefers raving about NSW they say it gives lots of beneficial bacteria and corals look healthy than ever? And its free!

So whats the draw backs?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Free is a relative term , but it is fine to use clean seawater. Whether it is better in some way has not been demonstrated, IMO.

I've collected it a few times to add some different species of bacteria, but never noticed any observable difference later.

 

[becks]

I’ve used it and not noticed any difference, all the levels were normal.

I only stopped because I live 40minutes each way from the sea, plus collection time. If the sea was on my door step, I would be using it all the time.

 

[Ash321]

Thanks for the replies guy was just curious thats all i live in the uk so collecting nice clean water would be a misson

 

[PatW]

The thing about making your own is that you start with 0 tds water which is pretty pure. You add a salt mix to it, you have pretty good assurance that you do not have contaminants.

If I go out to a local estuary, I don’t really know what is in the water. It could be good. It could be that there is something dumping lead, copper, pesticides or who knows what into the water or a ship has just cleaned its bilges. There are just a bunch of unknown risks. It is playing Russian roulette with my reef tank.

As for bacteria, they seem to get into a reef tank pretty well on their own. It is a bit like if you build it, they will come.

 

[Ash321]

The thing about making your own is that you start with 0 tds water which is pretty pure. You add a salt mix to it, you have pretty good assurance that you do not have contaminants.

If I go out to a local estuary, I don’t really know what is in the water. It could be good. It could be that there is something dumping lead, copper, pesticides or who knows what into the water or a ship has just cleaned its bilges. There are just a bunch of unknown risks. It is playing Russian roulette with my reef tank.

As for bacteria, they seem to get into a reef tank pretty well on their own. It is a bit like if you build it, they will come.

That was the thing i was worried about the contaminants iv heard horror stories about peoples tanks crashing on other forum due to what nsw or so they beilived. I find it interesting that some people swear by it and others dont

 

[becks]

That was the thing i was worried about the contaminants iv heard horror stories about peoples tanks crashing on other forum due to what nsw or so they beilived. I find it interesting that some people swear by it and others dont

I’m in the U.K. too, you have to collect on the incoming tide and don’t collect after large rainfall, that way you should not get any containment’s. I guess you could run carbon in the containers for peace of mind.

Your be surprised how clean the waters are and you can view water tests, there’s a surfing app that will display any sewage discharge or other events that may impact water quality

 

[Rjramos]

Here in south Florida a lot of people use NSW. The cleanliness here is pretty good as there are plenty of mangrove estuaries and reefs that keep things that way. I collect my own through a 250 micron sieve while over reefs with beautiful clear water, on my boat, 60 gallons at a time. When I haven’t gotten out, I have collected at the inlet. The LFS as well as private large tanks get delivered by several trucks that draft out of the local inlets on incoming to high tide. What I will say is that it has to be fresh. There is always residual older water left in storage tanks at LFS that is stored outside in the heat. This could be problematic. Collection trucks also need residual in the tank in order to pull draft when they go collect.

 

[User1]

I've used it a couple times in the past. More so during drought years since I live in Ca. I wouldn't collect up North which is closer say in San Francisco or the bay but I would around Point Reyes. Better for me to collect down South in Monterey. I will do it on a day trip down there diving. The main thing is not to collect in a reserve / park. I don't think there is enough information to build pros or cons but the one thing going for it is that it is natural and not synthetic.

 

[squampton]

Not sure about now as I have been away from San Diego for a number of years, however at one point using natural sea water was pretty popular there and was easy to obtain at the Scripps Pier where there was a spot to get water which made it simple and no boat needed.

I believe the Scripps Aquarium does use natural sea water in many of their aquariums.

The debates on the topic on local forums there were always interesting, a lot of people saying no, horrible idea but never actually trying it, and other side who used nothing but local NSW and swear its the best thing ever.

I live on the coast in Canada but not to the open ocean and the too much industrial stuff along the inlets so won't risk using natural water.

 

[fish farmer]

This got me thinking....I've never used NSW, but wouldn't it contain all sorts of plankton, bacteria, diatoms, etc...good and bad? I work in the fisheries profession where biosecurity is a big deal and we would be filtering raw water like that. We even disinfect our distribution trucks if we have to temper with lake water. Little critters get spread in ballast and bilge water all the time.

 

[Ash321]

This got me thinking....I've never used NSW, but wouldn't it contain all sorts of plankton, bacteria, diatoms, etc...good and bad? I work in the fisheries profession where biosecurity is a big deal and we would be filtering raw water like that. We even disinfect our distribution trucks if we have to temper with lake water. Little critters get spread in ballast and bilge water all the time.

Well this is what the people on the facebook marine group i was in where saying beneficatal bacteria anyhow is interesting to hear what you all think!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Well this is what the people on the facebook marine group i was in where saying beneficatal bacteria anyhow is interesting to hear what you all think!

I'm sure it is just speculation about the bacteria. Identifying bacterial species at all is not a DIY project, and aside from known species that cause known diseases, I doubt the information is even known about what species and strains out of the thousands present are desirable and which are undesirable.

IMO, folks that see an immediate positive effect are likely seeing feeding on the organisms present, not establishment of bacteria that are doing something fundamentally desirable.

 

[Ash321]

I'm sure it is just speculation about the bacteria. Identifying bacterial species at all is not a DIY project, and aside from known species that cause known diseases, I doubt the information is even known about what species and strains out of the thousands present are desirable and which are undesirable.

IMO, folks that see an immediate positive effect are likely seeing feeding on the organisms present, not establishment of bacteria that are doing something fundamentally desirable.

O yeah i agree! not one person could give me any evidence or even the exact paramters of the water they had pulled out of the sea!

 

[Shaun Sweeney]

Been using NSW (from PNW) for almost 2 years. Works great.

 

[Captain Quint]

NSW from UNCW is filtered and is decent if you live in NC. Due largely to the great Marine Biology department there.

 

[Cory]

If i had to choose id pick nsw. The reason is that if you did a icp test on nsw it.should be close to all values nsw has. Sythetic seawater might contain high sulphur and low sodium. Mine did.