Stealing saltwater...

[LochNess23]

...From the ocean of course

I live 4 minutes from the beach. A beach where surfer bros congregate, not one with lush reef life. Would there be anything wrong with me taking a couple buckets of sea water here instead of mixing my own? Would water parameters be more "polluted" than water in reef areas or mixing my own?

 

[Fishy888]

I would think that water from near shore would be quite polluted. Think of all the suntan lotion, runoff, and probably more than I can think of ATM. A few miles out though would likely work.

 

[Jekyl]

@Paul B has been getting it from shore for longer than most reef tanks last.

 

[killer2001]

ICP test the ocean water.

 

[Fishy888]

That's true but I think he gets his further out. I'm going to see if I can find out.

 

[chemisfun11]

Large aquariums truck in saltwater for their tanks. They filter it mechanically and biologically before they use it in their display tanks. It gets tested as well before it's used in their display tanks. For most of us it is a lot less work (and more peace of mind) to use RO/DI water and salt mix.

 

[Big Smelly fish]

I know PaulB and one other person that gets it off shore . No problem. I’m pretty sure I heard it’s a lower salinity.

 

[killer2001]

I know PaulB and one other person that gets it off shore . No problem. I’m pretty sure I heard it’s a lower salinity.

I got a small sample of Atlantic Ocean water on the east coast of Florida and it measured 37ppt salinity.

 

[Jekyl]

That's true but I think he gets his further out. I'm going to see if I can find out.

Nope. Right from shore. Think he uses a diatom filter on it prior to adding to tank. Also requires matching desired salinity.

 

[Jekyl]

I got a small sample of Atlantic Ocean water on the east coast of Florida and it measured 37ppt salinity.

Natural ocean salinity ranges from 33 to 38 depending on source.

 

[Fishy888]

I got a small sample of Atlantic Ocean water on the east coast of Florida and it measured 37ppt salinity.

New York has areas of lower salinity like near the Hudson river for example.

 

[Fishy888]

Nope. Right from shore. Think he uses a diatom filter on it prior to adding to tank. Also requires matching desired salinity.

I stand corrected then. Thank you.

 

[FlyinAg]

I thought about bringing a bucket out when I took the boat fishing in the gulf today. I was only going to bring some back if I could get out to the really clear water. Even miles out there can be areas of poor color due to micro flora/fauna, especially when it's hot. The water might look blue, but then you realize how green it is when you get out to the clean water. Id want to be very careful about introducing that.

 

[Fishy888]

I thought about bringing a bucket out when I took the boat fishing in the gulf today. I was only going to bring some back if I could get out to the really clear water. Even miles out there can be areas of poor color due to micro flora/fauna, especially when it's hot. The water might look blue, but then you realize how green it is when you get out to the clean water. Id want to be very careful about introducing that.

Plus much of the Gulf Coast is estuarine with the Mississippi emptying into the Gulf.

 

[FlyinAg]

Yeah definitely in the bayous here in the FL panhandle, etc. I think if you get away from the bay/bayou inlets its probably normal. You'd have to get way away from the MS River. You can see on a map how far it dumps murky water out.I 'll have to check a gulf water sample though.

 

[FlyinAg]

Case in point. Here is where i live. Today good water is 12 NM out. We were no more than five miles and I could tell the water was tinted a little green.

The map shows water clarity. Blue good. Everything else bad. Really has an effect on fishing. Looking at the MS river is pretty telling!

 

[HomebroodExotics]

Case in point. Here is where i live. Today good water is 12 NM out. We were no more than five miles and I could tell the water was tinted a little green.

The map shows water clarity. Blue good. Everything else bad. Really has an effect on fishing. Looking at the MS river is pretty telling!

People don't realize how bad the mouth of the Mississippi is. It's practically uninhabitable. Our fishing in South Louisiana is absolutely abysmal compared to what it was when I was kid 20 years ago.

 

[FlyinAg]

I bet. Sucks man. I think its like that everywhere to a degree and for different reasons. Here in NFW folks say the same thing, but I think its overfishing and crowds here. Back in TX where I grew up fishing, we have dealt with brown tides and of course crowds now as well in the bays. With the advent of the internet, everyone knows all your fishing spots!

 

[vetteguy53081]

...From the ocean of course

I live 4 minutes from the beach. A beach where surfer bros congregate, not one with lush reef life. Would there be anything wrong with me taking a couple buckets of sea water here instead of mixing my own? Would water parameters be more "polluted" than water in reef areas or mixing my own?

The only caution is to grab water at high tide versus low tide. I plan on doing the same off Miami Beach and the guys out there told me there is less impurities during high tide

 

[Rmckoy]

I always read water from beaches can not be as good , further out is best . But never tested this theory .