hey i live right by the ocean could i just get water from the ocean if its the rite sg and put it in my tank insted of doing senthetic salt. ive heard of ppl doing this before.
real ocean water
- Thread starter fishfreek6
- Start date
That will work as long as you are able to collect it far enough offshore to avoid contaminants- you can't just walk down to the beach with a jug.
Hi,
I have heard this done before, but I do not think it is worth the hassle.
Well, unless you literally live in front of the ocean... Then, maybe it is worth it.
I would not worry too much about contaminants, but use common sense. If people are allowed to swim or if people fish there, then it is probably good enough water. Do not collect from areas where there is potential river runoff or sewage contamination.
I have heard this done before, but I do not think it is worth the hassle.
Well, unless you literally live in front of the ocean... Then, maybe it is worth it.
I would not worry too much about contaminants, but use common sense. If people are allowed to swim or if people fish there, then it is probably good enough water. Do not collect from areas where there is potential river runoff or sewage contamination.
If people are allowed to swim there, that's exactly where I would not collect. But that's just me I guess...
If there is no visible contamination caused by the beach-goers, there is no real cause of concern.
The water in your tank, which is made out of tap-water, is probably going to contain more contaminants than most ocean water taken from a beach...
Nitrates, Phosphates, Nitrites, etc... Plus, trace amount of E. Coli, Copper, Lead, etc.
I hope you get the point! 
Industrial contaminants (PCB, Fertilizers, etc) and sewage runoff (b/c of nutrients), should be your main concern. Responsible goverment agencies should close down or post signs around beaches that fall in this category....
hth
Pollution related beach closings up 128% in Florida.
Instant Ocean is my friend
But seriously reefpicker- I understand what you are saying, and would not dispute it. But there is really no beach anywhere near me I would dare collect water to pour into my hard fought tank.
Instant Ocean is my friend
But seriously reefpicker- I understand what you are saying, and would not dispute it. But there is really no beach anywhere near me I would dare collect water to pour into my hard fought tank.
Hey reef you mention tap water havin contaminants in it and you are right, thats why we need to use RO water. Just my two cents worth.
Adam
Adam
Hi,
I admit that I should have phrased in such a way to cover all bases. Indeed, some beaches are really contaminated...
One thing I did not mention in the first post, because I thought it was redudant, is that you can look at bioindicators to tell you how good the water is in a public beach.
Too much algae growing over coral rocks could be a sign of high nutrients (or high water temp).
Coral bleaching could be a sign of people touching them too much (i.e water quality might be good). You may see other animals, but corals are bleached....
Lots of nice corals, with few fish, could be a sign of fish going elsewhere because of LOUD PEOPLE
(I really dislike this kind of beach crowd)...
And so on, and so forth.....
HTH
I admit that I should have phrased in such a way to cover all bases. Indeed, some beaches are really contaminated...
One thing I did not mention in the first post, because I thought it was redudant, is that you can look at bioindicators to tell you how good the water is in a public beach.
Too much algae growing over coral rocks could be a sign of high nutrients (or high water temp).
Coral bleaching could be a sign of people touching them too much (i.e water quality might be good). You may see other animals, but corals are bleached....
Lots of nice corals, with few fish, could be a sign of fish going elsewhere because of LOUD PEOPLE
(I really dislike this kind of beach crowd)...And so on, and so forth.....
HTH
If you collect from the ocean, try not to get any of the water from the surface, it's prob loaded with sunblock! Siphon the water that's a foot or 2 deep.