Salt water in a box. good or bad?

I still think if the OP stated the facts to the dad, he could be convinced that it is economically the right call

 

I had trouble convincing my father the same thing for a time, he couldn't understand or justify having me spend 200$ on a filter for clean water for my tank So I've been forced to drag buckets around from my lfs, which is a little drive but not too bad. Given that we don't pay for water here so the water is free but it's still harsh on gas after awhile. So I just pleaded my case and explained that we will waste little to no water by using it for laundry and drinking ( my family drinks a little bit of water) Able to convince him and I really thought I wouldn't be so now we're getting one next month. But to the point if some people same that its not bad as long as it comes from somewhere good, then I would use the water myself, and just have some on hand same with ro and if possible rodi water for top off's because it will be needed. So for this year you will probably suffer with getting water from here and there but you will cherish the moment you're able to get a rodi unit.

 

If you made 20 gallons of RODI a month that would be a total of 80 gallons with waste. Is 80 gallons a month really that big of a deal?

Also, I would not use natural saltwater unless it has been collected from over 70 miles out. The onshore collection sites have a lot of nutrient rich land runoff

 

Unfortunately his question has still not been answered. I could assume it s ok, but you know what assumptions do. I have never used it before and do not know anyone who has. You can always be the test case. Concidering that you water changes are probably small, it may not be overly expensive for you to use it. If you do try it, post your results. I would be interested to see test results from when it is "fresh" and how your tank responds.

 

Actually if you can smell chlorine, it means there is not enough! Same thing with a swimming pool. The smell is because all of the available chlorine combines with contaminants (once bound, called chloramines). As the chloramines evaporate, they give off the "chlorine" smell. When this happens, in a pool, you need to shock the water by adding chlorine to breakup the chloramines. Same idea with drinking water. If there is enough chlorine (or even more than enough), you can not smell it.

Just a fun fact for Monday.

 

Seawater is not better.... At least not the kinds we can get by the time we get it.

 

Very interesting!!! I would never have guessed that.

 

I think that would depend where you get. Our water would have way way to much river run off, but if I was to get water off of the Keys the water would be very good as long as I was off the coast a bit. If you were to collect on a reef you would know it is good enough water.

 

I really hate to quote myself but...

 

But here is what you don't have.. You don't have that water fresh.. by the time it gets to your tank to use, the zooplankton and phyto have likely died off and now you are using water with waste in it.. I still contend that you are better off with ro/di and salt water mix.

Also, the op does not have access to reef water.