real sea water

Ncastro1981 · 02/03/2009, 04:34 PM

who uses nutra- real sea water? The stuff that comes in 4.4 gal jugs? I add a gallon a day in water changes, and do a 20% h20 change with salt mix on the weekends. does this make sense or is it a waste of money for this stuff?

Ncastro1981 · 02/03/2009, 05:01 PM

no one uses it?

LobsterOfJustice · 02/03/2009, 05:07 PM

"I add a gallon a day in water changes"

Do you mean to compensate for evaporation?

TheORKINMan · 02/03/2009, 05:08 PM

I use it and love it

seapug · 02/03/2009, 05:11 PM

You aren't using the sea water for topoffs, are you?

TheORKINMan · 02/03/2009, 05:15 PM

I use it for actual water changes and RO/DI for topoffs

Ncastro1981 · 02/03/2009, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by LobsterOfJustice
"I add a gallon a day in water changes"

Do you mean to compensate for evaporation?

lol. no i do a 1 gal water change daily with it.

Pacdaddy · 02/03/2009, 06:57 PM

the 20% a week is more than sufficient. I wouldn't change a gallon a day on top of that. That's way overkill.

lancer99 · 02/03/2009, 07:03 PM

It's a waste of money, unless it costs less than the saltwater mix you can make up yourself.

Check out the TOTMs and see how many use it.

-R

TheORKINMan · 02/03/2009, 07:06 PM

I pay the extra just for convenience honestly.

Ncastro1981 · 02/03/2009, 07:52 PM

i feed heavy. by 20% i do about 25 gal on a system with 140+ gal h20. so in all it is about 20% a week. My thought was the large amounts of photoplanktin... and other things that i cant get with a salt mix. I have done complete changes with mix and with the nutri water and have found my tanks contents looking better when i use real sea water. Also my though was that it would do a better job of naturally feeding my sps and maybe allow for some of the dt's to have food and survive... but i dont know. any one else think they get better water this way? When i used to have a nano i used only this stuff and always had great results. Just looking for opinions from those who use or have used. Do you use a different yet similier product?

Ncastro1981 · 02/03/2009, 07:53 PM

TOTMs?

Ncastro1981 · 02/03/2009, 07:58 PM

actualy its exactly 20% including the gal. a day. And as for overkill i dont think so. Maybe for your system but for mine i have been haveing great results. Find that i need to add much less 2 part...ect with reg. changes.

MrRyanT · 02/03/2009, 08:02 PM

TOTM = Tank of the Month

Gdevine · 02/03/2009, 08:05 PM

I do weekly 12g WC's on 65g DT with NSW (live 1 mile from the beach in SoFla) and my tank thrives! My tank has never seen synthetic mixes...and it never will

Ncastro1981 · 02/03/2009, 08:19 PM

how many totm's do use it? any?

lancer99 · 02/03/2009, 08:33 PM

None...that was my point.

Natural sea water is completely unnecessary for the average reef tank.

It might be useful (if fresh) for the more adventurous who are keeping non-photosynthetic organisms, but for the rest of us, it's a waste of time and money.

-R

Ncastro1981 · 02/03/2009, 09:44 PM

dont know if i agree with you and would love it if others would pipe in. Could you give me some facts, or science to back up your statement of it being useless?

lancer99 · 02/03/2009, 10:29 PM

Sorry, I guess I did sound a little conclusive, when I don't think anyone really knows.

I found this article from 2002 useful.

I did find this quote pertinent: "...even aquarists using NSW as the initial medium don't have tanks where the chemical composition bears much similarity to Natural Sea Water."

-R

Gdevine · 02/03/2009, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by lancer99
Sorry, I guess I did sound a little conclusive, when I don't think anyone really knows.

I found this article from 2002 useful.

I did find this quote pertinent: "...even aquarists using NSW as the initial medium don't have tanks where the chemical composition bears much similarity to Natural Sea Water."

-R

I, and many reefers from the south Florida, use nothing but Natural Sea Water. The LFS's sell it by the tons. I even asked Julian Sprung myself on the use of NSW and he said that's all he ever uses.

Some of the largest public aquariums in the world near the sea use NSW...

How in God's name would fresh NSW NOT have the same chemical composition of NSW? That seems just plain silly to me.

I measure my parameters on a regular basis and everything is totally in line. I have no algae problems. My corals and fish thrive and I have more life both in my tank and fuge then I could ever imagine...

Ask PaulB about NSW...he'll tell ya!

Gdevine · 02/03/2009, 11:29 PM

Here is a quote from Reefkeeping Magazine Online that I think is very pertinent: "Amongst professional marine biologists, particularly those who work with invertebrate embryos, the average artificial sea water mix has been recognized for many years as an imperfect substitute for what is the perfect medium for marine animal growth,"pure ocenanic sea water"

palawan · 02/04/2009, 01:24 AM

If I had access to NSW like those in Florida I probably would use it too, so long as it was filtered or taken far offshore(pollutants). But NSW from a local LFS -I don't buy anymore because the NSW from the supplying vendor is inconsisntant-sometimes the NSW is high in phosphates.

aussiefishie · 02/04/2009, 01:28 AM

If i may ask, where do you collect your NSW from ?? I live in Australia and could easily collect it, but would think you would require a boat and obtain the water from as far offshore as possible ??? Am i wrong ????

Ncastro1981 · 02/04/2009, 07:16 AM

thanks for the additional information. glad to see people are getting good results, what type of testing have you done on nsw before adding to tank? if ordered in a jug what do you think the actuall usefullness life span of the water really is?

Paul B · 02/04/2009, 02:04 PM

Quote:

It might be useful (if fresh) for the more adventurous who are keeping non-photosynthetic organisms, but for the rest of us, it's a waste of time and money.

I would have to disagree.
I don't know if you are talking about that NSW that they sell in boxes, I have no experience with that. I go to the sea and collect it.
You can use fake water of course and a lot of people have to but nothing beats real water.

02/03/2009, 04:34 PM	#1
Ncastro1981 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Vermont- The Green Mountain State Posts: 363	real sea water who uses nutra- real sea water? The stuff that comes in 4.4 gal jugs? I add a gallon a day in water changes, and do a 20% h20 change with salt mix on the weekends. does this make sense or is it a waste of money for this stuff? __________________ Float like a Cadillac Sting Like a Beemer (my 2.5 y/o son's favorite quote) Your the foam left on the beach after high tide Current Tank Info: 48 x 24 x24 Reef with a 24 x 12 Sump Attached to a 30 x 13.5 Refugium: 2 150 w mh 2/96 w PC Aqua c ev-120 skimmer with mag 7. CHAETO and 200 MICRON Bag, phosphate/carbon reactor,120w pc lighting over refug.

02/03/2009, 05:01 PM	#2
Ncastro1981 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Vermont- The Green Mountain State Posts: 363	no one uses it? __________________ Float like a Cadillac Sting Like a Beemer (my 2.5 y/o son's favorite quote) Your the foam left on the beach after high tide Current Tank Info: 48 x 24 x24 Reef with a 24 x 12 Sump Attached to a 30 x 13.5 Refugium: 2 150 w mh 2/96 w PC Aqua c ev-120 skimmer with mag 7. CHAETO and 200 MICRON Bag, phosphate/carbon reactor,120w pc lighting over refug.

02/03/2009, 05:07 PM	#3
LobsterOfJustice Recovering Detritophobe Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 7,443	"I add a gallon a day in water changes" Do you mean to compensate for evaporation? __________________ If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right. I remember when zoanthids were called things like "green" and "orange" and not "reverse gorilla nipple." Current Tank Info: 180g reef with all the bells and whistles

02/03/2009, 05:11 PM	#5
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	You aren't using the sea water for topoffs, are you? __________________ insert clever saying here. Current Tank Info: 200 gallon custom Marineland DD peninsular tank. LPS dominated mixed reef. Previous 90 gallon mixed reef TOTM April 2009.

02/03/2009, 07:52 PM	#11
Ncastro1981 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Vermont- The Green Mountain State Posts: 363	i feed heavy. by 20% i do about 25 gal on a system with 140+ gal h20. so in all it is about 20% a week. My thought was the large amounts of photoplanktin... and other things that i cant get with a salt mix. I have done complete changes with mix and with the nutri water and have found my tanks contents looking better when i use real sea water. Also my though was that it would do a better job of naturally feeding my sps and maybe allow for some of the dt's to have food and survive... but i dont know. any one else think they get better water this way? When i used to have a nano i used only this stuff and always had great results. Just looking for opinions from those who use or have used. Do you use a different yet similier product? __________________ Float like a Cadillac Sting Like a Beemer (my 2.5 y/o son's favorite quote) Your the foam left on the beach after high tide Current Tank Info: 48 x 24 x24 Reef with a 24 x 12 Sump Attached to a 30 x 13.5 Refugium: 2 150 w mh 2/96 w PC Aqua c ev-120 skimmer with mag 7. CHAETO and 200 MICRON Bag, phosphate/carbon reactor,120w pc lighting over refug.

02/03/2009, 05:08 PM	#4
TheORKINMan Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Tallahassee, FL Posts: 423	I use it and love it

02/03/2009, 05:15 PM	#6
TheORKINMan Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Tallahassee, FL Posts: 423	I use it for actual water changes and RO/DI for topoffs

02/03/2009, 06:57 PM	#8
Pacdaddy Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Holbrook, NY Posts: 28	the 20% a week is more than sufficient. I wouldn't change a gallon a day on top of that. That's way overkill.

02/03/2009, 07:03 PM	#9
lancer99 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Falls Church, VA Posts: 1,100	It's a waste of money, unless it costs less than the saltwater mix you can make up yourself. Check out the TOTMs and see how many use it. -R

02/03/2009, 07:06 PM	#10
TheORKINMan Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Tallahassee, FL Posts: 423	I pay the extra just for convenience honestly.

02/03/2009, 07:53 PM	#12
Ncastro1981 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Vermont- The Green Mountain State Posts: 363	TOTMs? __________________ Float like a Cadillac Sting Like a Beemer (my 2.5 y/o son's favorite quote) Your the foam left on the beach after high tide Current Tank Info: 48 x 24 x24 Reef with a 24 x 12 Sump Attached to a 30 x 13.5 Refugium: 2 150 w mh 2/96 w PC Aqua c ev-120 skimmer with mag 7. CHAETO and 200 MICRON Bag, phosphate/carbon reactor,120w pc lighting over refug.

02/03/2009, 07:58 PM	#13
Ncastro1981 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Vermont- The Green Mountain State Posts: 363	actualy its exactly 20% including the gal. a day. And as for overkill i dont think so. Maybe for your system but for mine i have been haveing great results. Find that i need to add much less 2 part...ect with reg. changes. __________________ Float like a Cadillac Sting Like a Beemer (my 2.5 y/o son's favorite quote) Your the foam left on the beach after high tide Current Tank Info: 48 x 24 x24 Reef with a 24 x 12 Sump Attached to a 30 x 13.5 Refugium: 2 150 w mh 2/96 w PC Aqua c ev-120 skimmer with mag 7. CHAETO and 200 MICRON Bag, phosphate/carbon reactor,120w pc lighting over refug.

02/03/2009, 08:02 PM	#14
MrRyanT MrRyanT Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 1,731	TOTM = Tank of the Month __________________ We are what we repeatedly do, excellence then, is not an act, but a habit. - Aristotle Current Tank Info: 30 gal display

02/03/2009, 08:05 PM	#15
Gdevine Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Pompano Beach, FL Posts: 1,232	I do weekly 12g WC's on 65g DT with NSW (live 1 mile from the beach in SoFla) and my tank thrives! My tank has never seen synthetic mixes...and it never will __________________ What's good having a monkey if you can't play with it? Current Tank Info: 65g Mixed Reef - 35g Fuge - EcoSystem Method

02/03/2009, 08:19 PM	#16
Ncastro1981 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Vermont- The Green Mountain State Posts: 363	how many totm's do use it? any? __________________ Float like a Cadillac Sting Like a Beemer (my 2.5 y/o son's favorite quote) Your the foam left on the beach after high tide Current Tank Info: 48 x 24 x24 Reef with a 24 x 12 Sump Attached to a 30 x 13.5 Refugium: 2 150 w mh 2/96 w PC Aqua c ev-120 skimmer with mag 7. CHAETO and 200 MICRON Bag, phosphate/carbon reactor,120w pc lighting over refug.

02/03/2009, 08:33 PM	#17
lancer99 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Falls Church, VA Posts: 1,100	None...that was my point. Natural sea water is completely unnecessary for the average reef tank. It might be useful (if fresh) for the more adventurous who are keeping non-photosynthetic organisms, but for the rest of us, it's a waste of time and money. -R

02/03/2009, 09:44 PM	#18
Ncastro1981 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Vermont- The Green Mountain State Posts: 363	dont know if i agree with you and would love it if others would pipe in. Could you give me some facts, or science to back up your statement of it being useless? __________________ Float like a Cadillac Sting Like a Beemer (my 2.5 y/o son's favorite quote) Your the foam left on the beach after high tide Current Tank Info: 48 x 24 x24 Reef with a 24 x 12 Sump Attached to a 30 x 13.5 Refugium: 2 150 w mh 2/96 w PC Aqua c ev-120 skimmer with mag 7. CHAETO and 200 MICRON Bag, phosphate/carbon reactor,120w pc lighting over refug.

02/03/2009, 10:29 PM	#19
lancer99 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Falls Church, VA Posts: 1,100	Sorry, I guess I did sound a little conclusive, when I don't think anyone really knows. I found this article from 2002 useful. I did find this quote pertinent: "...even aquarists using NSW as the initial medium don't have tanks where the chemical composition bears much similarity to Natural Sea Water." -R

02/03/2009, 11:29 PM	#21
Gdevine Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Pompano Beach, FL Posts: 1,232	Here is a quote from Reefkeeping Magazine Online that I think is very pertinent: "Amongst professional marine biologists, particularly those who work with invertebrate embryos, the average artificial sea water mix has been recognized for many years as an imperfect substitute for what is the perfect medium for marine animal growth,"pure ocenanic sea water" __________________ What's good having a monkey if you can't play with it? Current Tank Info: 65g Mixed Reef - 35g Fuge - EcoSystem Method

02/04/2009, 01:24 AM	#22
palawan Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Fremont,CA Posts: 960	If I had access to NSW like those in Florida I probably would use it too, so long as it was filtered or taken far offshore(pollutants). But NSW from a local LFS -I don't buy anymore because the NSW from the supplying vendor is inconsisntant-sometimes the NSW is high in phosphates.

02/04/2009, 01:28 AM	#23
aussiefishie Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: brisbane, Australia Posts: 22	If i may ask, where do you collect your NSW from ?? I live in Australia and could easily collect it, but would think you would require a boat and obtain the water from as far offshore as possible ??? Am i wrong ????

02/04/2009, 07:16 AM	#24
Ncastro1981 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Vermont- The Green Mountain State Posts: 363	thanks for the additional information. glad to see people are getting good results, what type of testing have you done on nsw before adding to tank? if ordered in a jug what do you think the actuall usefullness life span of the water really is? __________________ Float like a Cadillac Sting Like a Beemer (my 2.5 y/o son's favorite quote) Your the foam left on the beach after high tide Current Tank Info: 48 x 24 x24 Reef with a 24 x 12 Sump Attached to a 30 x 13.5 Refugium: 2 150 w mh 2/96 w PC Aqua c ev-120 skimmer with mag 7. CHAETO and 200 MICRON Bag, phosphate/carbon reactor,120w pc lighting over refug.