Who here uses NSW? Thoughts?

[Frtdrmrose7]

im currently debating wether to set up another tank (wife will be ticked) but this one I had wondered about using NSW. I’m not far from the ocean and have enough equipment to get 250G at a time. The tank would be either a 60 or 90 gallon reef.
Any experiences? How do you prepare your NSW?etc.

 

[mtfish]

Lots of posts on this. NSW will have all sorts of things. Mostly good in my opinion. Try to collect in a low impact area and during an incoming tide. May have to adjust salinity up or down depending on where and when collected. I have have been using NSW for 6 years in current tank, no issues. I have 125 gallon tank for collection. That is all my 1/2 ton Ford can handle. I collect and let it set several days to let any fine sediments to settle, then pump into a 165 gallon holding tank in fish room. No other filtration for me.

 

[cracker]

I used to collect NSW but got too involved now that I'm older& tanks got bigger. My question is on long term storage .

 

[Mjrenz]

The only advice I can offer is on the wife part; just think about how many more tanks you could have if you didn't have any more furniture in the house! Jk, I love my wife too

 

[Frtdrmrose7]

The only advice I can offer is on the wife part; just think about how many more tanks you could have if you didn't have any more furniture in the house! Jk, I love my wife too

I’ve already hijacked what was a family room lol

 

[Mjrenz]

I would love to hear about what kind of success you may have with nsw, whether it's good or bad.

 

[KrisReef]

Go collect some of the water test to see what the parameters are. It should be great for fish, but for coral it might need elements added.

 

[TvanB1]

If its coming from a clean area and has been thoroughly filtered I would use it. Ive seen how the water in my area is collected and have opted not to use it after seeing the images and filtration process. This is the business that supplies most of the NSW to my area. This image is about two years old so he may have adopted new methods by now.
Mixing water is easy enough and much cleaner.

Exhibit A:
Look at all the oil... nasty

 

[Mjrenz]

I used to collect NSW but got too involved now that I'm older& tanks got bigger. My question is on long term storage .

I wonder if a uv sterilizer in a dark container would work for long term storage

 

[Frtdrmrose7]

If its coming from a clean area and has been thoroughly filtered I would use it. Ive seen how the water in my area is collected and have opted not to use it after seeing the images and filtration process. This is the business that supplies most of the NSW to my area. This image is about two years old so he may have adopted new methods by now.
Mixing water is easy enough and much cleaner.

Exhibit A:
Look at all the oil... nasty

Your pic didn’t post but yes pollution concerns me but disease concerns me even more.

 

[Softhammer]

I’m on the gulf side with a boat and could easily collect it from many miles offshore. Add that to hauling fishing gear from the marina and then RO plus 50 bucks a month in salt seems like a bargain. Very interested to know how it works if you go ahead and do it. Good results may change my outlook on it all! Hope it works for you.

 

[cracker]

@Softhammer, That's how I used to do it.
@ mjrenz, That's what I was thinking . After all , NSW is "Live Water" so to speak . I would think a UV could work. However another complication. For me at least.

 

[TvanB1]

Your pic didn’t post but yes pollution concerns me but disease concerns me even more.

 

[SDK]

I’d have to dig up the specifics, but the author of The Marine Aquarium Handbook mentions collecting NSW in Florida for his reef tank.

He uses bulk dry chlorine and an inexpensive test kit from a pool supply store to make the water safe without multi week dark storage.

 

[clm65]

If you collect it off the New Jersey coast, make sure you check it for syringes and medical waste before putting it in your tank.

 

[Frtdrmrose7]

If you collect it off the New Jersey coast, make sure you check it for syringes and medical waste before putting it in your tank.

And possibly Jimmy Hoffa.

 

[User1]

A couple points I think are in order although you already have a lot of good information here. From someone living in Northern California - the crazy state has some rules - here is what I would suggest even when other states:

1. Check the location you want to pull from and local laws. I sent a few emails to the state water resource control board and also fish and game during our drought since I was going to collect water. That caught them a bit back but after a few more emails the general consensus was to collect outside marine and/or state parks. As long as I'm outside of those they didn't care and it was for home use. Meaning something I'm going to collect and take home via a suv or pick up. 50 - 200 gallons give or take.
2. Check the water conditions. I do this, or used to anyway (in upgrade mode and take maturing so waiting another 6 months), when I go scuba diving. I'll collect in Monterey. Anyway I always check the area I'm diving for sea life (mostly large mammals like sea lions) and bacteria blooms. If they are reporting bad water or bacteria I won't collect let alone dive.
3. No need, at least for me, to run UV. You bring it home, store it, let it sit, and use. Coral polyps will pop upon introduction even if I'm diving on a day with as little as 10 feet visibility or 70.

For us the main thing is just collection location and if it is allowed. If so then usually it is pretty good to go once you get home and let it settle. No power head, no heater, nothing. I'll be doing this again later in the year and can't wait. One or two dives off the beach, collect some water, grab a nice dinner, drive home and I'm good

 

[Mjrenz]

If you collect it off the New Jersey coast, make sure you check it for syringes and medical waste before putting it in your tank.

I guess it depends on how "natural" he wants his aquascape to look

 

[fishybizzness]

Lots of posts on this. NSW will have all sorts of things. Mostly good in my opinion. Try to collect in a low impact area and during an incoming tide. May have to adjust salinity up or down depending on where and when collected. I have have been using NSW for 6 years in current tank, no issues. I have 125 gallon tank for collection. That is all my 1/2 ton Ford can handle. I collect and let it set several days to let any fine sediments to settle, then pump into a 165 gallon holding tank in fish room. No other filtration for me.

How long do you normally store it for? Have you ever stored it for more than a few days with good results or do you use it pretty quickly?

 

[Jase4224]

I collect my own water and love it. Saves me money, gives me an excuse to see the actual ocean too.

My advice is to definitely collect on the incoming tide nearly at high tide. No need for a boat just find a convenient jetty. It seems silly to go to the trouble of going out on a boat to collect water that comes from the open ocean with the tides.

No need to filter the water but you could put UV and carbon if you wanted to. Personally I want everything that comes with NSW because that where our livestock comes from. Silt settles in a couple of days but no reason you can’t use it after collecting.

You can also collect macros, pods etc

Definitely keep a bucket of salt as backup though in case you can’t collect for any number of reasons.