"real" ocean water

[jimpierce]

I have to ask. See, I live about a quarter mile from the beach. Monterey peninsula and all. The other day while I was in Petco looking to buy pre mixed salt water the ol' "goofamatic" machine I call my brain went off............... why am I buying "sea" water when I live right on the dang ocean??!!!

[cocoa_pleco]

hmmm, good question, i dont know if it would work

[Rue]

Oh you certainly can! That's what many reefers did in the early days (like back in the 70s! :hmm3grin2orange: )

BUT - you never know exactly what's in the water as far as pollutants, pathogens and nutrients go...so it's NOT recommended in any way, shape or form!

[tropfish]

i think you could if you test the water each time to see exactly what you're putting in, and then fix it accordingly, but it seems like less of a hassle just to mix it yourself.

[cocoa_pleco]

good point, with all of the sewage and crap people dump in the water i wouldnt trust it

[jimpierce]

even living in a sanctuary I'm not sure I would trust it here. We just had a bad problem with birds turning up dead on the beach and it turned out to be from a red tide type issue and not an oil spill.
This was just one of the many "why not?" issues that run threw my head!! lol

[unleashed]

i sometimes collect NSW for my water changes here in Auckland. Mind you, that's the benefit of living in New Zealand... So many place to collect water.

[Willyleigh]

BUT - you never know exactly what's in the water as far as pollutants, pathogens and nutrients go...so it's NOT recommended in any way, shape or form!

Neither do you know what is in the tap/ RO water used to mix the artificial salt water. As long as the water is healthy ie lots of fish living there you should be fine collecting 'real' salt water.

[Tigerbarb]

I would not trust real ocean water personally, but I think it is safe to use if you let the bacteria die first.

[Rue]

Neither do you know what is in the tap/ RO water used to mix the artificial salt water. As long as the water is healthy ie lots of fish living there you should be fine collecting 'real' salt water.

???

RO water is as pure as it gets...so you KNOW nothing is in it! THAT'S the whole point of it!!! Whereas, unless you test extensively you have no idea what's in your particular sample of ocean water or what the local life forms have adapted to!

I don't buy pre-mixed SW...I mix my own...I suppose a store mixing their own water could be pulling the wool over your eyes...but then we're getting away from generalities and into specific examples of wrong-doing.

[cocoa_pleco]

RO is pure like rue said, and perfect. i mix my own too so i know exactly whats going in

[MeganL3985]

I dont own saltwater tanks, but I just wanted to say, like the others, I wouldn't trust ocean water. You never know whats floating around in there.
Thats like would you prefer taking a drink of lake water, or out of your own home? :) lol

[Fish Whisperer]

The problem with using real ocean water is the introduction of a myriad of parasites and other undesirables into your system.