Ocean water from the ocean?

New to the hobby and was wondering if you you could use water straight from the ocean and also sand from the ocean to start a salt water tank?

 

Although some people do use nsw, I don't. It's not my location that hinders me, it's the thought of all the pollutants found in nsw and beach sand. If there was some way you could clean up the pollutants without taking away any of the trace minerals, than I might use it.



phil

 

safer to mix your own. as for sand it is also safer to use cleaned sand.

 

These guys are right, you need to know where your stuff comes from and what is in it. On the other hand, it is possible to find clean sand and water. I don't know about CA, though. If you have a supplier, look at his tanks. My supplyer's tanks are immaculate, his fish are in excellent shape. He does work over the sand some to get as much iron as he can out of it, but here in Indonesia with partially volcanic sand you are going to have some iron. He also cleans the water up a bit, but just once through a filter. It's your choice, your call.

Cheers,
Ray

 

Matt gets his own NSW and has been very successful with it. Let's see what he has to say


J

 

Hey another member from the East Bay! Cool.

I started my tank with water and sand from Pt. Reyes:


More Info.

As you probably know, we are lucky to have a place so nice nearby. I've used sand from there in a couple of my tanks now without ill effects. It's not the bleach white sand that many people get, but I think it's pretty and a good size. I was a nutbag and swam (get a boat!) and got a bunch of water with water jugs, but I haven't done that in a while. Last time I went a couple months ago the waves were insane. Plus there are sharks and nasty currents. So now I get NSW from the store, at least for the winter.

Welcome to 3reef!

matt

 

I get my nsw from a plant that filters it first, then it travels to a spicket where you can take as much as you want for free..
and i still dont know why they do this..

ive been using it for almost a year with no problems..the thing i like about using nsw is that the water has already 'matured'.

 

I have to pay for mine, but nothing like in the states, and labor comes in the price, so a 50% water change on a 110 gal tank is but $12 and no sweat of my brow, I can handle that. And that is the high octane stuff (he adds the good stuff).

Again, I caution that you have to see what your guy is offering. The LFS I am buying my stuff from is a Brit here in Indonesia. His shop is immaculate. Check out his website at aquarium-laut.com

The pics are just like his store.

Now, his prices are much more than the local price, but with the locals, well ... They harvest the fish using cynaide. You may buy 2-3 before getting one to live. I can buy just one form this guy and know that it will live. In the end, the price is about the same.

Anyway, if you have a supplier for NSW, check his stuff and then make up you mind. Look at his tanks, either those in his shop, or those that he is maintaining. If they are clean, then you might have a good source of water.

OH, if he has a slow response time, always keep enough salt around to handle a water change yourself. But if his response time is faster than you can make salt water and let it sit while before using it, then he is your man, if his stuff is good.

I would still keep a bag of salt handy.

Cheers,
Ray