UCSB Santa Barbara NSW Natural Sea Water...

[jeffreylam1132]

Originally posted by reefpeep2004
Actually I've been using Catalina Water for more than a year. I usually drive over to Reef Collection, since they only charge .25/gallon.


My ears perked up at "FREE" water in LB, but sadly....it was rumor only

Hi Reefpeep,

Do you know the address for Reef Collection. That is a very good deal for Catalina water. Here in L.A., I have to paid .60/gallon.

[raskal311]

Reef Collection up their price to 35cent, which is about average in OC. I think coral oasis has it for 30 cent, everyone else has it for 39cent. Ooo and there is Pet Town who charges $1.29 rip off!!!!


for info on reef collection go to reefcollection.com

btw unless your in the area or need a lot of water I wouldn't drive down to OC just for water. The gas would make up for the savings.

[raskal311]

And go to coraloasis.com for info on them.

[FrozenSurfer]

Ok, for all the reefers in LB....There is free water, it's called "harbour water" and there is a rumor going around that you can grow a new species of LPS... it's the same kinda stuff they found down in San O off the power plant... they say it is neon green... very pretty... and splits quite easliy too.

[abad36]

where the LB one...
I get my water from aqutic outlet near lax... 60 gal card for 13.99 on sale !! comes out to about $ 0.56,.... I pick up 60 gals in one shot so i dont make so many trips... but i would love to get water from LB... PM me the location

[jeffreylam1132]

Thanks Kevin. I actually drop by reefcollection last week. A very nice little place. Where's coraloasis located? I went to their website by it's under construction.

[jarhed]

It's in Irvine, across Main street from the airport. Definitely check them out. Dont mess with my 180 tank thats sitting on the floor in the front of the store. Just gotta figure out a way to get it home.

[glaudds]

Thanks, boarder, for the great directions! Just got back from visiting my son at UCSB and picked up 40 gallons of the free NSW.

Out of curiosity, I tested the water and no surprise, the readings were consistent with NSW... CA=410, alk=2.5 meq/L, nitrates undetectable, salinity 1.026.

Anybody have detailed directions to the Scripp water in SD (or is it in La Jolla)? I can't remember where it is.

[Konadog]

Originally posted by glaudds
Anybody have detailed directions to the Scripp water in SD (or is it in La Jolla)? I can't remember where it is.

Try this: http://www.sio.ucsd.edu/about/directory/ The place to get water is at the pier, just to the left of it.

[fish @ chips 29]

is there a limt to how much water to can take from the scipps location?

[tigerczr]

Originally posted by abad36
where the LB one...
I get my water from aqutic outlet near lax... 60 gal card for 13.99 on sale !! comes out to about $ 0.56,.... I pick up 60 gals in one shot so i dont make so many trips... but i would love to get water from LB... PM me the location

It actually comes out to about .23 cents per gallon and it's the best deal in anywhere on Catalina water. I also go there for my water.

[JHReef]

UCSB is the only water for me! Since I was "turned on" to that source, I have a really REALLY hard time opening my wallet to pay for Catalina water. Incidentally the Catalina stuff is the only thing I use if I can't get to SB. One problem w/the Cat. stuff is usually low in SG compared to UCSB. I feel bad for those poor souls who actually mix water, I don't think I even remember how to do it anymore.

[sbgreen]

UCSB water is what i use, granted, i am on my first reef tank and only 3 weeks into it. i have a few quetions:

I was wondering since the water in SB isnt exactly tropical and a much lower temp than tropical environments, am I going to be lacking important trace elements and the such? I love the free water, in fact i just filled up today, just heating the water now. For those that have been using it for a while - are they any additives that you have found necessary or if i keep up my 5 gallon water change once a week on my 50 gal should i be fine.

thanks for all the help

[sbgreen]

UCSB water is what i use, granted, i am on my first reef tank and only 3 weeks into it. i have a few quetions:

I was wondering since the water in SB isnt exactly tropical and a much lower temp than tropical environments, am I going to be lacking important trace elements and the such? I love the free water, in fact i just filled up today, just heating the water now. For those that have been using it for a while - are they any additives that you have found necessary or if i keep up my 5 gallon water change once a week on my 50 gal should i be fine.

thanks for all the help

[rehren]

refer to my post (and photo) on the first page of this thread.

only thing i added to my tank was kalkwasser mixed into my RO. once or twice i added strontium (to buildup corraline algae).

[JHReef]

I use Kalk drip and B-ionic 2 part. I've alse been experimenting with Sea Lab 28. It's a trace element supplement block that you dump into the sump or in a filter. Since they (UCSB) filter the water so well, it does lose some trace elements, but nothing you can't easily fix. FWIW, I just dump it in when I do changes and let things settle for a couple of days before I add anything. The oceans are all pretty much the same, so no worries about the difference in water in SB vs. Fiji except temp. It's still way better than Catalina water. HTH

[Crusty Old Shellback]

I use mine straight out of the bucket, don't add a thing. When I add my top off water, I'll alternate between calicum, buffer and trace elements. My corals always seem to perk up when I do a water change so I think it's a good sign and the water is fine.

[shy07guy]

Just FYI you may want to test the water for PO4 ocassionally. I know of at least one time that it was off the charts not saying its not good water just know that it has not always been perfect.

[JHReef]

I'm curious if that PO4 spike was after some of those major rains we had this winter/spring? I've gotten so used to the excellent quality of the water, I hardly even check the salinity anymore.

[shy07guy]

I can not remember at all but it could have been during the winter after a rain.

[JHReef]

Well, probably not a bad idea to test it a little more often anyway.

[Lo0seR]

You can take as much from Scripps as you want, all they ask you to do is let them know in advance for large amounts (like tanker amounts) so that they know whats going on. As far as that, take all that you need for your own personal use. It's a nice plus thats for sure for all the reefer people here S.D. .

[CamBarr]

What about filtration??? Is the water filtered?

[Jim in santa barbara]

What about filtration??? Is the water filtered?

Originally posted by Jim in santa barbara
The water from UCSB is filtered to 20 microns and is pulled from 500 yds out. I avoid using it after heavy rains due to the slough runoff but have never had problems with it.

Its funny how many RC'ers I run into down there.

[CamBarr]

Uv, or chemical??? What about dissolved toxins I can tell you from being in the wholesale side of the industry that Catalina can come in bad.
High PO4 and who knows what else (lb harbor).