Stupid Question

It seems like the goal of salt manufacturing companies is to produce a salt that is most simular to NSW (natural salt water). So why are there no common brands of salt that are just evaporated NSW?

 

pollution in NSW is why. it can build up in system and make fish/coral go kapoot.

 

That's a pretty good question.

If one were to simply take NSW and boil off the water until only the solids remained (salts, trace elements and whatever else is in NSW), the resulting powder would contain some pollutants that aren't desired.

I think major manufacturers like Instant Ocean, Kent, etc.; create theirs in a lab to mimic the natural ingredients as best they can, without containing any impurities such as pollutants. It's a best of both worlds scenario. By adding only those ingredients known to exist in NSW, they control the ingredients by not only dictating what's in there, but what's not.

 

Yeah but there is plenty of unpolluted NSW out there... You don't necesarily need to boil it either, you could just leave it out in the sun. NSW salt would also be cheaper to produce.

 

You ca use it, just make sure its from "further out"

 

Unfortunately, I don't think there is ANYTHING on the Earth anymore that hasn't been exposed to pollution!!!
This has nothing to do with your idea, I'm just griping about pollution!

 

. . . .

 

Does it not stand to reason that if all oceans are connected that they would all be polluted to some degree???? I may be wrong but unpolluted water seems like an oxymoron to me.

That is why I would rather use synthetic salts. That way I know what is in there.

 

the further away from the source of the polution the more diluted the pollution is so the further u go out to sea the better the water quality potential

 

I think that the reasoning behind the production of synthetic salt for a marine biotope is due to the fact of money!!! The producers of the various salt mixes on the market are relying on us to purchase their salt. Their is alot of money to be made in this industry. Also as was mentioned very nicely by you guys above, pollution plays a major part in the success of our tanks.
Our tanks are much smaller, obviously, than that of the oceans and reefs of the world, therefore you have to view our tanks(microcosm) under a microscope, so to speak, as it takes alot less to effect our tanks chemistry and bring about detrimental problems.