Rune
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Bangor
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Post by Rune on Jun 27, 2014 9:48:43 GMT -5
Does anyone have any experience using real seawater in their tanks instead of artificial? I have a source where I can get seawater filtered to 1 micron for free, but I'm trying to decide if that would be better or worse than RODI water and IO.
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Post by gotareef on Jun 27, 2014 10:11:36 GMT -5
the problem with seawater here in maine is all the life in it (the reason maine water is green) so when it is warmed from 55-60 degrees it speeds up the life cycle of everything in the water, causing die off and bacterial blooms
also you are going to have to adjust the salinity with rodi water salinity changes with water temp...
having said that if it is filtered like you plan what life in the water is below 1 micron?
you also need to be careful where you collect the water, if it is from a cove or near shore it is "polluted". seawater needs to be collected off shore (a couple miles out) and from a depth of 15-20 feet down (like any natural seawater you buy)
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Rune
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Bangor
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Post by Rune on Jun 27, 2014 10:29:14 GMT -5
1 micron filtration is enough to take out all everything but the viruses and bacteria, I think. The salinity is a little low, but I don't mind adding some salt when I warm it up.
It is from fairly close to shore, but it's downeast so i'm hoping that it's cleaner than water further south. Maybe I should bring some home and do some tests on it...
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Rune
New Member
Bangor
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Post by Rune on Jun 27, 2014 10:39:04 GMT -5
just looked it up- it should get rid of most bacteria too.
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Post by gotareef on Jun 27, 2014 10:42:45 GMT -5
maybe im confused but if it is small enough to take out bacteria how does it let salt threw?
also "downeast" with all the lobster and fishing boats not to mention ocean tours, wale watching..... I wouldnt say the water is cleaner on the coast.
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Rune
New Member
Bangor
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Post by Rune on Jun 27, 2014 10:46:53 GMT -5
the salt can get through because it's dissolved- the water breaks down the structure of the crystals. You're right though, if it wasn't dissolved it would probably get caught in the filter.
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Post by gotareef on Jun 27, 2014 10:49:09 GMT -5
water and salt dont mix? this is why I am concerned about the filter taking the salt out of the water
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Post by gotareef on Jun 27, 2014 10:58:35 GMT -5
I helped my son with a report on this a few months ago.... when you mix salt and water the salt changes into sodium and chlorine ions surrounded by water molecules called ion complexes. if filtered these should be removed from the fresh water with the filter...
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Rune
New Member
Bangor
Posts: 70
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Post by Rune on Jun 27, 2014 11:02:49 GMT -5
well, the filter is not fine enough to take out individual molecules. It really only filters out the larger bacteria, which are pretty big in comparison.
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Post by gotareef on Jun 27, 2014 11:19:08 GMT -5
if you can filter it out good enough go for it... but I would test it before putting it in your display tank...
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Post by gotareef on Jun 27, 2014 13:09:23 GMT -5
I did some reading and most say by the time you filter (including uv) then adjust everything ph,alk,calcium,mag...... and trace minerals..... it is allot of work and can be costly.
you have to remember our aquariums are from warm tropical oceans almost every bit of it is different from maine ocean water
I would think if you added a couple gallons here and there it wouldnt be bad. clams, soft and lps corals would probably love you for it...
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Rune
New Member
Bangor
Posts: 70
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Post by Rune on Jun 27, 2014 15:37:42 GMT -5
hmm, ok. I got some to bring home with me, I'll see how it looks when I test it.
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Post by BriMc on Jun 28, 2014 8:39:58 GMT -5
Hmmm I don't know about the chemistry but I have used water from a mile or so off the Biddo coast for years in the summer time. My buddy has / had a boat and he would collect a 40 gallon drum of sea water for me every couple of weeks. The water was filtered with a 100 micron filter sock, run through carbon for a day or so and then brought up to salinity and temp. I never had an issue and corals extension always popped when I added NSW.
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Seawater?
Jun 28, 2014 10:25:32 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by doverdoug on Jun 28, 2014 10:25:32 GMT -5
I was using it back about 20 years ago on a fowlr tank. I collected it in the south portland area. Im sure it had some nasty stuff in it but my lionfish and trigger fish did well in it for about a year and a half up until the time I broke down the tank.
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Post by spotfin on Jun 28, 2014 17:28:12 GMT -5
Where are you getting the water from?
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