ocean water and sand

[cam191919]

could i just go to the ocean, and get water? and sand? im starting a 50 gallon. would i cycle the water normaly, or would the water be cycled already. how deep sould my sand be? thanks

[Catpicklesdog]

This is one of those questions that is always open for debate. Some say yes some say no. Personally I wouldn't (even if I could!!!) My main reason being, you don't know what's in it. How do you know that the area you collect from isn't polluted. Plus the fact natural seawater "dies", both biologically and chemically, more quickly than synthetic.

JMO

[kcress]

catspics; has it. Large debate.

Generally if you are of the experimental mindset. Go ahead and do it - if you have clean ocean water. Not some harbor or metropolitan beach.

See what shows up. It could be bad but it also could be great. Either way it will likely be interesting.

If you are primarily in it to have a nice cool looking pristine aquarium to show off and the aquarium's precise look is the ENTIRE point of your efforts then do not get sea water/ sand.


Also you will still need to go thru a cycle as whatever you drag home will not be instantly functioning as a life supporting system.

BTW many people would concerned seeing someone drag buckets of sand away from a beach so you would need to be low key about it. Water - no one seems to care.

[cam191919]

i think im gunna buy live sand, but i know a place teeming with life. even seahorses just live ther. so i think im gunna get the water ther. no boats either, too shallow

[BToast]

Good luck. I hope you plan to post your results, should be interesting to all.

[buttered loins]

I have never bought fake sea water and never will unless i didnt live near the ocean. i have'nt ever had problems with it and the ocean water is always clean unless there has been heavy rain. so i would use real sea water instead of fake sea water personally.

[cam191919]

wait, what happens with heavy rain?

[mattmartindrift]

wait, what happens with heavy rain?


run off

go grab a bag of dirt, put it in a pillow case, and run water through it, see how much silt comes out.

[cam191919]

ok i get it. just curious