Esteemed Colleagues,
I was wondering what your thoughts were on the use of natural ocean water for cycling a tank and/or water changes. I live a stone's throw from the Atlantic and I have several experts in the area all who have a different opinion or way of executing this task.

Your thoughts?

Thanks in advance!

Chaz

I am certainly no expert, but IMO the trouble with getting ocean water is that most people would get it close to the shore where it is most polluted where there are all sorts or remnants of things you don't really want in your tank. I would think going out a bit on a boat and getting the water there would have better conditions. Just my $.02. For example, on the west coast, particularly near San Diego, the water is very polluted. In many beaches you can see sewer and/or run-off pipes draining into the ocean which would make for a poor water conditions. I don't really know how the water near you is, but its a roll of the dice.

On the other hand, I would think, getting water from the ocean would give you top notch parameters for your tank as far as salinity, alk, calcium, etc. Not to mention its a lot cheaper I know someone who does that without any trouble yet, but I probably wouldn't recommend it.

the source is not authentic, to elaborate, there are no corals where you are harvesting.

^ That doesn't really matter, IMO.

I use water that comes out of an Estuary on the SC coast.

It's more important that you collect from a "clean" source (i.e. offshore) and that you filter it before you use it.

I have a book written by Charles Delbeek and he mentions the ability to use ocean water. The best thing to do is start up a small testing tank. Use the water you want and test it in a small 5 gal tank. I was going to set up one, but if you already have a tank set up and everything is going well I wouldnt mess with your display tank. You know what they say "Dont fix something that isnt broken"

That sounds like a plan. I have a small tank and can do that very thing. It would be an interesting experiment. The owner of one our local shops who is a Marine Biologist runs his entire outfit on Ocean water collected off the coast. I'll let you know what I find out. I need to run out for another box of Reef Crystals just the same....

Thanks for the advice

Many of the LFS stores here in So Cal use Catalina Island water, they have a boat that collects from around the island which is 26 miles off shore. The key is to get away from the coast and get the cleaner water.

not sure as far as cycling goes but one of my LFS's carries uv sterilized pacific water. ive used it for about 6 months with no problems and its all they use in their tanks. no problems to date.

I use Blue Pacific that the LFS sells it comes in a box and is about $14.00 for 5 gal. it is supposed to be direct from the Ocean. In the long run it is cheaper. because I would have to buy RO water which is $1.00 a gal. and the salt mix, then make it.. this way it saves time and cost about the same.. If you can get it from a good sorce I would use it juts test it first.

I used NSW to cycle my tank with some nice LR from an existing setup. I had no cycle and no die-off. Not sure if it was because of the water, but I am sure it didn't hurt anything

BTW, 14 bucks for 5 gals of water is a pretty big chunk of change. Wouldn't you save money by buying a RO/DI setup and some salt? Just wondering.

Just for arguments sake:

50 gallons of RO or distilled water - $50.00
50 gallons worth of saltwater mix - $20-26 a PetsMart
1 hour of the average person's time - $25

50+26+25 = $101 cost to make 50 gallons

$101 / 50 = $2.02 per gallon

$2.02 per gallon x 5 gallons = $10.10

Thats assuming the high side of pricing for everything.

$3.90 a week saved (assuming weekly water changes) x 52 weeks = $202.80 saved a year or $101.40 if you do biweekly changes.

Plus, honestly how do you know your LFS is really selling you Pacific water?

Just playing devil's advocate here.

$1.00 wow. My 2 LFSs charge $.25 and $.50.

Yeah better to mix your own anyway imo. It's not like you're churning butter. Just toss the salt in, add heater + powerhead and let it stew for a while. If it takes more than 5 minutes to do you're drunk.

+1 (though can't verify the drunk thing since I've never done it myself) - less costly and total control. LFS water (prepackaged or not) = no control.

Try to look for an oceanographic/marine research institute or aquarium near by that may have free filtered ocean water. I know in San Diego, the Scripps Institute of Oceanography has a free tap to the public with filtered ocean water that many of the local reefers use.

I live in delray beach florida and all i use is natural sea water. I like to run offshore to get it but that gets tough on a weekly baisis. Our inlets move tons of clean water if you catch the tide right. I wouldnt let it sit to long though. I always put a bubbler in. I consider it live water. alot of the fish stores around here collect it at the inlets and sell it as live ocean water but after being in a bucket for 3-5 days how can anything be alive? And for anyone who thinks this is crazy, check our inlet out some time zoas living in boca raton inlet and live coral growing on the cement walls in boynton inlet.

Where in SC are you located?