NSW or Synthetic?

[noskimmer]

Just a quick one, I notice a lot of people are using synthetic salt water, or am I wrong? I started off using synthetic about 12 years ago, because that is just what you used. But now I only use NSW, with RO top off. I do understand that people have great success using synthetic, and it is much better than it used to be. And I also understand that geographically NSW maybe difficult to obtain

The thing that got me thinking was the thread about the refractometer and the hydrometer. Logic would have it that you would just see the results based on NSW..?

The last tank I set up, I just got the guy to deliver the water directly to my house and pump it into the tank, much cheaper, and a lot easier. He will charge a price (if forget, maybe $100 - $200AU) for 1000 liters, so you just fill all your containers as well.

[LittlePuff]

Almost everyone uses synthetic. If it's a FOWLR, Instsant Ocean is the most common.

Are you checking the salinity in your tank. You should only top off with R/O.

What are you using for water changes?

It would be alot cheaper to get your own R/O filter and make your saltwater out of that.

Hydro and refractometers work on all kinds of marine saltwater.

[5xevy]

NSW never really occurred to me since I live in New York. My LFS doesn't have any handy and I don't know where I'd get any. I personally have a RO unit and use Reef Crystals.

Local collection isn't feasible here. I've also read about local collection and possible garbage and unwanted wastes contained within.

I think I would prefer NSW as that's obviously the most natural one can have for their tank. That and the fact that no synthetic salt is very close to the components of NSW. But for me it's location and availability.

[Reefscape]

i actually voted wrong...i supposed to of clicked synthetic....DOH !!!

Niko

[5xevy]

Hahaha, that was you? I thought noskimmer voted. I'll make it more even! ;)

[Reefscape]

ha ha ha ha...nope, me havin a blonde moment....thanks El.....

[tankanator]

I guess you have to look where you are located you are in Sydney and being located near the ocean you may have a vast amount of NSW available to you. I live in MD and I would not want to put any NSW from around here in my tank I see what runs off in the bay. So i guess it location, location, location

[Germanman]

i would never use real saltwater dude to all the pollutants and how u would need to take a boat uot to get "unpolluted" natural slat water.....but it can be done. at the UC here they have water pumped in form 200 feet out but it still has problems...i would never use it Reef Crystals is what i will use until someone else makes a better salt.

[fsn77]

Synthetic for me... I have more control that way between our own RO/DI filter and Reef Crystals. Going out to collect NSW just wouldn't be cost effective or even feasible for me.

[247Plants]

We get NSW here in Long Beach CA.

They go to a newwrby Island and suck it up and bring it to the lfs's and sell it off.

[dorkfish]

I like the idea that there's no unknowns in synthetic... But I can't get NSW here anyway.

[managuay86]

well i guess im lucky then here in san diego we can get up to 50 gals of free filtered ocean water at scripps pier. yay i appreciate it more :)

[noskimmer]

Scripps pier.....

"Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego"

This isn't for all the public? or is it? I take it that if it's from a source like this, then it's good stuff? is it from the oceanography?

[managuay86]

yeah scripps and yeah its good stuff, Its about a 45 minute drive from my place but its worth it. my fish are all bright and healthy. no nitrates or nitrites. I love that place.

[noskimmer]

After all that and I end up getting a big tub of synthetic because we couldn't get NSW for a couple of weeks due to rain...

[0m3n]

I use NSW ya just cant beat the real thing.

[noskimmer]

How is that rock going...?