Sea water

saraiva · 05/02/2006, 08:04 AM

Natural Sea Water
What tratment it is necessary for use in reef aquarium

Randy Holmes-Farley · 05/02/2006, 08:22 AM

That depends on how fresh it is. If you can get it and use it the same day, then I'd just use it as is. If it needs to be stored, then keep it aerated.

Some people bleach and otherwise kill potential pathogens in it, but I do not have a recipe for doing that.

Crusty Old Shellback · 05/02/2006, 08:30 AM

Paul B bleaches his and has been doing it for some 30 years. Ask him for his receipe for sucess. I know it's been posted on RC a few times by him. I beleive it's in his thread about his 35 year old tank.

I get mine straight from a university that uses it in their marine research so I just use it straight. I've kept it stored for weeks at a time without aieraition and it didn't seem to bother it. The NSW I get is filtered down to 20 microns in a large sandbed filter. They have been doing it like this for years with no ill effects.

I've been using it for over a year and my corals seem to respond better to the NSW than they did to ASW. I've also only had one case of Ich since using it and it cleraed up on it's own. Not saying it WAS the NSW but I'm sure it helped.

Paul B · 05/03/2006, 02:39 PM

Saraiva, I don't know much about the water in Brazil but I would imagine it is OK to use right out of the sea. I would not use it from a harbor where there are ships or industry. I would also not use it if you don't see any fish in it or if it smells of anything.
I would try a little of it in a small tank with a small fish for a week to see how it does. There are at least two types of pollution we are concerned with, bacteria and chemicals. Bacteria is not usually a problem as there are bacteria everywhere. I doubt there would be disease causing bacteria in numbers that would cause concern. Chemicals like industrial waste, pesticides, fuel
of course we don't want in our tank thats why you don't want to take it from a busy harbor.
If you are worried about diseases or paracites you could do as I sometimes do by bleaching it. As Chevy said I have been doing it for many years but I only add bleach if there is red tide in the water or I think there may be too much bacteria.
I add one teaspoonspoon of "Regular" Clorox to five gallons of sea water. Airate it for a week then add about twice the dosage of chlorine eliminator available in any pet shop (in the US anyway)
If it does not smell of chlorine after a couple of hours you could use it. You must use only regular Clorox ,
If you use any other type of bleach or Clorox besides regular you will kill all of your animals in a few minutes (don't ask)
I am not sure of other brands of bleach but it must be only chlorine and water.
Before you treat seawater or store it for more than a day you must filter it, you can use a diatom filter or even coffee filters. You want to eliminate the living things that will die while it is being stored. If you want to use seawater immediately with no storage or bleach then just check the temperature and salinity and dump it in your tank. The seawater in New York is very weak and I must add salt, and of course heat it.
No matter what you do with it I would try some in a small tank as I said with a fish or small coral. If it is fine for an hour or so it should be safe. If there was something wrong with the Clorox or you did not use enough chlorine eliminator you will know instantly.
Let me know if I left anything out.
Good luck.
Paul

kyleka. · 05/03/2006, 05:31 PM

good read

Crusty Old Shellback · 05/04/2006, 07:59 AM

Wow Paul, seems like if I mention your name, you show up to give the advice they are looking for.

must be good Karma between us.

Thanks for posting it again in yet another thread. Take care.

Paul B · 05/04/2006, 02:09 PM

How you doing Chevy? Must be good Karma.
Get that Idol yet?
Take care.
paul

Crusty Old Shellback · 05/04/2006, 02:12 PM

Naw still not yet. I get to start working on moving the tank into the main room this weekend. Should take me about a month to have everything in and running. Then the fun begins to skin it all in oak.

Take care.

05/02/2006, 08:04 AM	#1
saraiva Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Rio de Janeiro Brazil Posts: 99	Sea water Natural Sea Water What tratment it is necessary for use in reef aquarium

05/02/2006, 08:22 AM	#2
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	That depends on how fresh it is. If you can get it and use it the same day, then I'd just use it as is. If it needs to be stored, then keep it aerated. Some people bleach and otherwise kill potential pathogens in it, but I do not have a recipe for doing that. __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

05/02/2006, 08:30 AM	#3
Crusty Old Shellback MASVC OG Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Home of the FREE, Thanks to the BRAVE! Posts: 5,089	Paul B bleaches his and has been doing it for some 30 years. Ask him for his receipe for sucess. I know it's been posted on RC a few times by him. I beleive it's in his thread about his 35 year old tank. I get mine straight from a university that uses it in their marine research so I just use it straight. I've kept it stored for weeks at a time without aieraition and it didn't seem to bother it. The NSW I get is filtered down to 20 microns in a large sandbed filter. They have been doing it like this for years with no ill effects. I've been using it for over a year and my corals seem to respond better to the NSW than they did to ASW. I've also only had one case of Ich since using it and it cleraed up on it's own. Not saying it WAS the NSW but I'm sure it helped. __________________ Have you THANKED a Veteran lately for the freedoms you take for granted each day? Best quote ever! "This is a hobby for God sakes and so many people get so uptite. A "hobby" so it should be fun and not a cause to worry or go broke." Paul B Current Tank Info: Tankless for a while. RIP my 8+ yr old pair of Naso tangs, 4 + yr old Moorish Idol

05/04/2006, 07:59 AM	#6
Crusty Old Shellback MASVC OG Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Home of the FREE, Thanks to the BRAVE! Posts: 5,089	Wow Paul, seems like if I mention your name, you show up to give the advice they are looking for. must be good Karma between us. Thanks for posting it again in yet another thread. Take care. __________________ Have you THANKED a Veteran lately for the freedoms you take for granted each day? Best quote ever! "This is a hobby for God sakes and so many people get so uptite. A "hobby" so it should be fun and not a cause to worry or go broke." Paul B Current Tank Info: Tankless for a while. RIP my 8+ yr old pair of Naso tangs, 4 + yr old Moorish Idol

05/04/2006, 02:09 PM	#7
Paul B Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 15,549	How you doing Chevy? Must be good Karma. Get that Idol yet? Take care. paul __________________ I used to get shocked when I put my hand in my tank. Then the electric eel went dead. Current Tank Info: 100 gal reef set up in 1971

05/03/2006, 02:39 PM	#4
Paul B Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 15,549	Saraiva, I don't know much about the water in Brazil but I would imagine it is OK to use right out of the sea. I would not use it from a harbor where there are ships or industry. I would also not use it if you don't see any fish in it or if it smells of anything. I would try a little of it in a small tank with a small fish for a week to see how it does. There are at least two types of pollution we are concerned with, bacteria and chemicals. Bacteria is not usually a problem as there are bacteria everywhere. I doubt there would be disease causing bacteria in numbers that would cause concern. Chemicals like industrial waste, pesticides, fuel of course we don't want in our tank thats why you don't want to take it from a busy harbor. If you are worried about diseases or paracites you could do as I sometimes do by bleaching it. As Chevy said I have been doing it for many years but I only add bleach if there is red tide in the water or I think there may be too much bacteria. I add one teaspoonspoon of "Regular" Clorox to five gallons of sea water. Airate it for a week then add about twice the dosage of chlorine eliminator available in any pet shop (in the US anyway) If it does not smell of chlorine after a couple of hours you could use it. You must use only regular Clorox , If you use any other type of bleach or Clorox besides regular you will kill all of your animals in a few minutes (don't ask) I am not sure of other brands of bleach but it must be only chlorine and water. Before you treat seawater or store it for more than a day you must filter it, you can use a diatom filter or even coffee filters. You want to eliminate the living things that will die while it is being stored. If you want to use seawater immediately with no storage or bleach then just check the temperature and salinity and dump it in your tank. The seawater in New York is very weak and I must add salt, and of course heat it. No matter what you do with it I would try some in a small tank as I said with a fish or small coral. If it is fine for an hour or so it should be safe. If there was something wrong with the Clorox or you did not use enough chlorine eliminator you will know instantly. Let me know if I left anything out. Good luck. Paul

05/03/2006, 05:31 PM	#5
kyleka. Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 51	good read

05/04/2006, 02:12 PM	#8
Crusty Old Shellback MASVC OG Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Home of the FREE, Thanks to the BRAVE! Posts: 5,089	Naw still not yet. I get to start working on moving the tank into the main room this weekend. Should take me about a month to have everything in and running. Then the fun begins to skin it all in oak. Take care. __________________ Have you THANKED a Veteran lately for the freedoms you take for granted each day? Best quote ever! "This is a hobby for God sakes and so many people get so uptite. A "hobby" so it should be fun and not a cause to worry or go broke." Paul B Current Tank Info: Tankless for a while. RIP my 8+ yr old pair of Naso tangs, 4 + yr old Moorish Idol