Sea Water From The Sea

[Crazy fishes]

I have been thinking and then investigating; can you use sea water from the sea for water changes?? I went to the beach today a collected some water in a clean container and then measured some of the parameters that us 'Fish' people like to measure. Here is what I found:

S.G 1.024 @ 25C (the English Channel isn't 25 C; that was the room temp went it was measured)
pH 8.2
dKh 7
NO3 0.2ppm
PO4 <0.015ppm
Ca 450ppm

Surprisingly it appears that the water I got from the sea is indeed sea water and certainly has the same parameters as my aquarium water. However I have a potential problem while the measured parameters are fine what about those I didn't measure and even more the ones that I can't measure. I know for a fact that fish and other wonderful animals and plants live off the beach where I live (south coast of the UK) but does that mean that my corals and clowns will also appreciate it. I am worried that there is a toxin in the water which could be detrimental to my livestock. I have pursued the issue because if I can use it possibilities are then open to me. It would have massive financial effects i.e I wouldn't need to buy salt and RO water as well as opening the option of a bigger aquarium.

Do people use the 'real' sea water in their aquariums?

What are peoples thoughts?

Regards

 

[Dorkhedeos]

I and my lfs have both used real sea water in water changes before. However, this water is from the middle of the bay and goes through a filtering process where pretty much everything is irradicated and filtered out. If you were to run this water in your tank, I would suggest running it through a micron filter, carbon, and a uv unit before adding it to your tank.

 

[SkiFletch]

Surprisingly it appears that the water I got from the sea is indeed sea water

Fancy that

The only realistic problem you have is possible pollutants. If you're taking water from a non-developed area, chances are pretty good that the water is safe for use. Why not try a very simple test. Fill a small tank with seawater and place it by the windowsill so that it gets sunlight. Then put in say an actinodiscuss mushroom with a little airestone and see what happens. If the mushroom survives (or even thrives), it's probably safe.

If you're still worried, you could always filter the newly acquired seawater with some carbon just to make sure, that would get rid of 99% of common pollutants.

Coral farmers and aquaculture facilities the world over use seawater constantly pumped through their tanks, why wouldn't it work for you?

Edit: Good catch on the UV Dorkhedos

 

[Crazy fishes]

Surprisingly it appears that the water I got from the sea is indeed sea water

Fancy that

Well you have to add some light humour to make the read interesting. At least I hope it was taken in a tongue in cheek kind of way.
I know that as you say some aquariums use sea water pumped throughout the system; that system in Japan is awesome and uses both natural sun light as well for most of its lighting. What an ecofriendly bunch they are and it is mostly an SPS system.

Regards

 

[SkiFletch]

Oh, fear not CF, I had a good laugh with ya

 

[Crazy fishes]

I have been doing some digging around due to concerns with sewage and have found some interesting things. Firstly about 10-15 miles down the coast from where I live is a sewage outlet. It has been reported that the sewage is treated only to the primary treatment level (i.e a quick sieve) and a volume of approximately 80 Olympic swimming pools per day is releasd into the sea. A group known as 'Surfers against sewage' (SAS) has been fighting for cleaner waters for some years and have pointed out the local authorities are not complying with a EU directive regarding sewage treatment. It is interesting to note also that recently we have had hundreds of starfish washed up on the beach dead and people were stratching their heads saying why has this happened?? We should have a full sewage treatment plant (tertiary level treatment with the final stage being UV sterilization) but we don't and what is more remarkably is that there has been plans to build a desalinization plant to access the readily available sea water!! They dump the waste in the sea, kill the marinelife, poison the tourists who swim in it and then expect the locals to drink and wash in it LOL!! What a screwed up situation that is? Don't you just love politics....... I think that I may not use the sea water after all.... well at least until they have upgraded to full sewage treatment facilities.

Regards