Type of water

[BJR]

I'm new to this hobby and would like to set up a reef aquarium. I live near a beach -- would it be wise to use saltwater from the ocean to start my aquarium?

Also, would wet sand from the beach be considered "live sand"?

Thanks

 

[winyfrog]

Unless you are going and collecting the water from out in the ocean your should be fine?/ I would guess.

I would stick with mixing your own using RO water and I would not use the sand from the ocean. You are risking adding the unknown to your tank.

 

[Bifferwine]

Usually it's not a good idea to use ocean water -- it's terribly polluted. Especially where you are, on the east coast.

The only time people say it's okay to do that is if you get in a boat and collect it from at least a mile off shore.

Same for the sand.

 

[ndepratt]

You're going to need RO/DI water for top off on the tank.... so you might as well buy some salt and have pristine water :P

 

[dcantucson]

It's pretty sad when our Natural Sea Water is too polluted to use as such. :mad!!:

 

[messiah023]

Even the companies that sell "natural sea water" show some sort of filtration to the water to remove any contaminants.

I wouldn't suggest anything from the raw ocean (you never know what kind of parasites may be in your collection too).

 

[ndepratt]

this is what will happen to your fish if you use seawater from around NYC..... mutants.

 

[dcantucson]

Ha! :lol: