I just started a 10g sw tank. Its got 1 clown fish 2 damsels and 1 hermit crab. Its doing really good so far. My question is this, live pretty close to the ocean and i was wondering if i could have started this tank using real sea water. I understand about parasites and all that but, it just seems more natural to me and i dont see why it wouldnt work. I used Instant Ocean. I was just wondering about this..
Newbie question.,, Kind of stupid
- Thread starter Forevernight
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I use ocean water directly every now and then. It has brought many varied and strange creatures into my tanks. I have about 15 kinds of algae growing and many different pods and worms. Also limpets, and feather dusters that came from the ocean water.
You can use it but you have to recognize that you will lose some control of your environment. I happen to run my system more like a science discovery experiment rather than a pristine show tank, and so welcome new denizens..
InTr4nceWeTrust; Has a good point too. I would not conceive of using sea water except I live on the Pacific Coast in a relatively small town. I know which way the prevailing current flows and am assured of having pretty much unpolluted water as it come out of a marine sciences tank pumped directly in from a pipe out a few hundred feet from shore. I also get water from off a 1/2 mile long wharf.
If you are in a major metropolitan area or can only get water on the surf line.. I wouldn't.
You can use it but you have to recognize that you will lose some control of your environment. I happen to run my system more like a science discovery experiment rather than a pristine show tank, and so welcome new denizens..
InTr4nceWeTrust; Has a good point too. I would not conceive of using sea water except I live on the Pacific Coast in a relatively small town. I know which way the prevailing current flows and am assured of having pretty much unpolluted water as it come out of a marine sciences tank pumped directly in from a pipe out a few hundred feet from shore. I also get water from off a 1/2 mile long wharf.
If you are in a major metropolitan area or can only get water on the surf line.. I wouldn't.
You can't just say major metropolian areas though. There are small communities that dump junk into the ocean or like you said have a prevailing current coming their direction from someone that dumps.
I guess I'm a fuddy duddy because personally I wouldn't use that water. You just don't know whats happening in there. If you were to get water several miles off shore I'd say maybe.
I guess I'm a fuddy duddy because personally I wouldn't use that water. You just don't know whats happening in there. If you were to get water several miles off shore I'd say maybe.
The ocean near me is a marine sanctuary (protected) . I dont know if that matters.