Christopher Marks Posted April 21, 2014 Share Posted April 21, 2014 Hobbyists have a lot of options today when it comes to choosing saltwater for their reef aquariums. The most common option has traditionally been mixing saltwater at home using carefully developed dry synthetic blends. For hobbyists fortunate to live near the ocean, or a public aquarium, bulk supply of filtered seawater has long been available. In more recent years, it's become possible to even purchase pre-packaged jugs of filtered seawater in local stores, a real convenience for nano reef keepers in particular. Many local fish stores also offer both pre-mixed saltwater and filtered seawater in bulk, allowing you to purchase just the right amount while reusing your own containers. Let's take a look at where everyone is sourcing their own nano reef aquarium's saltwater. Have you made a switch from one source to another? Share your experiences, good and bad! 5 Quote Link to comment
ward827 Posted April 21, 2014 Share Posted April 21, 2014 I used to mix my own. Now I buy pre-mixed SW from my LFS. 1 five gallon jug at a time. I change 10% every 3 weeks. So it lasts. Quote Link to comment
defective_weeble Posted April 21, 2014 Share Posted April 21, 2014 Mixing my own with RODI and Red Sea Coral Pro. 14 Quote Link to comment
Ruester007 Posted April 22, 2014 Share Posted April 22, 2014 Store bought RO/DI with Red Sea Coral Pro. Quote Link to comment
dmasterx1x Posted April 22, 2014 Share Posted April 22, 2014 a hodgepodge of Petco Real Ocean water, mix my own with ro/di, and Nutri-Sea Water. 20% weekly wc 1 Quote Link to comment
D Z Posted April 22, 2014 Share Posted April 22, 2014 Mix it myself, RSCP + RODI Quote Link to comment
MikeTR Posted April 22, 2014 Share Posted April 22, 2014 Reef Crystals + RODI. IO has always been good to me. Not so lucky with oceanic or tropic marin bioactif. Quote Link to comment
metrokat Posted April 23, 2014 Share Posted April 23, 2014 Reef Crystals + RODI. Although considering switching salts. 1 Quote Link to comment
AWillroth Posted April 23, 2014 Share Posted April 23, 2014 I used to buy salt water from the Lfs but they recently closed, so I bought a ro/di system and mix with reef crystals. So far getting better results than from what I got from the Lfs. I think they used fritzs salt or something. Quote Link to comment
Moolelo Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 NSW from offshore Oahu, filtered. 4 Quote Link to comment
nanoreefnate Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 I get NSW from the LFS I work at which is filtered water from Half Moon Bay, CA. In my experience the salinity on this water is usually high, in the 1.026-1.027 range. The trace element levels are usually low, with Alk at 7-8, Ca at 310-360, and Mg at 1190-1260. This forces me to dose B Ionic into the water change water. 2 Quote Link to comment
afyounie Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 I started with IO Reef Crystals, then did a WC with some free stuff I got, and now I use Brightwell Neomarine blah blah (name is too long). Mix it with RO/DI water. Mixes up way faster than Reef Crystals, but leaves a residue in the bucket. All I really know is what I can tell from my corals and fish though. They all seem to be happy and growing and I have to dose Alk and Calc which I'm terrible at remembering to do. Though I think the biggest user of calc is the enormous amounts of coralline algae growing everywhere. Quote Link to comment
Jacob042426 Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 Un-filtered sea water from the incoming tide. 3 Quote Link to comment
kde002 Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 i started out with natural seawater but have since switched to reef crystals mixed with ro/di water and am seeing much better results Quote Link to comment
tgore Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 I usually get ro/di and saltwater premixed from my lfs. But I just recently snagged up a 200g box of Reef Crystals for $20 So plan to mix my own a little more often. I will always have my LFS as an emergency or backup and they use Red Sea Coral Pro salt so thats a plus. Quote Link to comment
ALexpsycho Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 I get it from the sea. Northern shores of the Thermaic Gulf on the Aegean Sea (part of the Mediterranean Sea). At least I know where it comes from. 3 Quote Link to comment
slowngreen Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 I mix my own also, Kent salt (from ebay seller) + RO/DI out of my storage container. Quote Link to comment
frankdontsurf Posted April 26, 2014 Share Posted April 26, 2014 I used natural sea water from a few local LFS all from the same 'source' distributor. Switched to another LFS these last few weeks, not sure what it is but its got excellent numbers compared to the inconsistent readings I get from the other guys. 50% water changes once a week, 10% water change mid week. Quote Link to comment
Jimmyboo Posted April 27, 2014 Share Posted April 27, 2014 When my LFS has RODI... Otherwise tap with conditioner and let it sit for 2 days. Then IO reef crystals, Quote Link to comment
Halo_003 Posted April 27, 2014 Share Posted April 27, 2014 RODI from my LFS + Instant Ocean Reef Crystals for me. Quote Link to comment
AdamNC Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 LFS with IO Reef Crystals mix of 1.027 and 25% water change about the beginning of each month. Quote Link to comment
AbelR1975 Posted July 9, 2014 Share Posted July 9, 2014 RODI from home and Coralife Marine salt Quote Link to comment
ny300z Posted July 9, 2014 Share Posted July 9, 2014 Petco seawater! $12 for my 4 gallon water change and no mixing. so easy and had good results for over a year 1 Quote Link to comment
Incubus_doubled Posted July 11, 2014 Share Posted July 11, 2014 I use Catalina water from my LFS, mostly everybody carries it around here in SoCal Quote Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.