Ocean Water---Pro's and Con's!

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Ricko

Candiru
MFK Member
Oct 5, 2008
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Pro's and Con's for using ocean water for water changes???

I have heard conflicting stories!

When i moved my tank last year it was filled by a reliable source and all my livestock was fine. I am thinking of using him every month for a major water change but don't know what negative problems (if any) this can cause.

The water comes from Mooloolaba where a public aquarium pumps their water for their 2.2 million litre oceanarium (Underwater World, they constantly turnover the water for this but there are no corals in it, just Sharks, rays, groupers, triggers, etc)

Can anything bad come from water changes with oceanwater???
 
Just keep in mind, anything on the ocean water is in your tank. Same reason most folks are leery to toss in a wild caught anything. The variability of potential hazard is as wide as what's in the ocean itself.

Of course, given the option I'd use ocean saltwater for my changes. $1.50 for premade water is ridiculous.
 
Just keep in mind, anything on the ocean water is in your tank.
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Um, the fish in SW tanks mostly come from the same ocean. Using ocean water for changes is only a good idea if your local water is clean. Considering Australian has the best reefs in the world you should be fine. Just don't take it from or near a marina.
 
Ricko;3114509; said:
Pro's and Con's for using ocean water for water changes???

I have heard conflicting stories!

When i moved my tank last year it was filled by a reliable source and all my livestock was fine. I am thinking of using him every month for a major water change but don't know what negative problems (if any) this can cause.

The water comes from Mooloolaba where a public aquarium pumps their water for their 2.2 million litre oceanarium (Underwater World, they constantly turnover the water for this but there are no corals in it, just Sharks, rays, groupers, triggers, etc)

Can anything bad come from water changes with oceanwater???
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Just think of all the aqricultural runoff plus whatever other pollutant's could be in the water. The best place to get ocean water is from a company that realiably treat's the water. I would ask them how they treat the water etc... before using or buying it from them

mr.reef24
 
myfishhadbabies;3116835; said:
Pro's - no need to mix and its natural
Con's - it wont renew ur additives like using a salt mix.
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I'm not sure what you mean by additives but if your referring to calcium and alkalinity, then I'm gonna have to disagree with you. When you mix salt water your trying to recreate natural sea water. Many reefers use water straight from the ocean and all of them say that their tanks never looked better than after a water change with water straight from the ocean. Not only is it free but i feel better than mixing salt by hand. I'm down to my last bucket of reef crystals and after this bucket is gone I'm switching to all ocean water for my water changes. If you want to bring a sample home and test it the only thing you may find is that the salinity may be higher than you prefer. If you do decide to use sea water than just screen it before you use it , just run the water through a filter sock to get rid of any unwanted pests and you will be good to go.
 
It will all depends on where the water is collected from. Inland shores of any water condition will vary from 2 miles out from shore. a lot of contaminates will accouter in inland shores then from outer shores. IMHO, water collected from outer shore would be better then water collected from inland shores.
 
I had meant, and again if the option was available I would use ocean water, that the ocean has a large variability of difference. Granted wild caught are still prevalent in the trade but aquacultured keeps fish and coral healthier in a simulated environment. Just as you don't want to release tank fish into the water for things like survivability and bacteria, one must keep in mind that the ocean water will have life in it.

Again I would use ocean water but as far as I know there is no test for unleaded gas in the water.
 
adammreef;3116960; said:
I'm not sure what you mean by additives but if your referring to calcium and alkalinity, then I'm gonna have to disagree with you. When you mix salt water your trying to recreate natural sea water. Many reefers use water straight from the ocean and all of them say that their tanks never looked better than after a water change with water straight from the ocean. Not only is it free but i feel better than mixing salt by hand. I'm down to my last bucket of reef crystals and after this bucket is gone I'm switching to all ocean water for my water changes. If you want to bring a sample home and test it the only thing you may find is that the salinity may be higher than you prefer. If you do decide to use sea water than just screen it before you use it , just run the water through a filter sock to get rid of any unwanted pests and you will be good to go.
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Sorry, I was referring to natural seawater that came from a company, they normally heavily filter their water and is lacking additives (trace elements and many other supplements). The Ca /ph/salinity levels are normal.
 
one thing a few of my friends do that get ocean water is store it in a dark place and heavily airrate it for 2 week's to kill any protozoan's or perisite's best of luck with your decision.

mr.reef24
 
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