Fellow newbies be careful!!!

[Marine_fanaticz]

To all my fellow newbies like me....though its important to share something with you.

Please because full when buying saltwater from certain LFS! today I bought 1 bag of saltwater from an LFS near my house for a dollar. The storekeeper told me that the saltwater is gotten straight from the farm and not used in any tanks. So today when I got home after doing a 10% water change, there's still a lot left In the bag, so I tested the water and guess what?

Nitrite wasn't zero!!! Nitrates were 5! I tought water change was to romove nitrates from the system not to add more to it? correct me if I'm wrong I'm still a newbie.

I'm not gonna say which LFS it is cos they're doing a business. Just wanted to share this you guys. Is it normal for this? the last time I bought saltwater from irwana and tested: everything is zero all perfect.

[patricklhc]

I never never pour water from lfs that use to contain fish or corals into my tank. I throw them away after acclimating the livestock

[TonyL]

Ahh...I never check as I assume they suppose to be replacement water as the LFS sell them. Mmmm better check also...thks for the advise.

[Royston]

Mind pm me the place where you bought the water from I just got a bag from a shop today to start cycle my tank with love rocks but no testkit so I am kind of worry if it is from the same source.

[David5077]

Bro can pm me also tks.. Cos I very week went to buy sea water also

[stevenchia]

Think should be normal.. in the natural sea water.. nitrate tends to be higher. Thats why i use salt mix.. if u wan risk ur live stocks. Theres nitrate in water plus nitrate in tank.. h2o no3 + no3 in present tank = Danger! Just some logic explaination imo. Unless ur tank has the capability to remove no3 n po4. u need to add supplements to nsw as they are at very low levels.. cal n mag etc..

[Gouldian]

Guys,

Please note that NSW is "alive" with plankton, microbes and bacteria and therefore it is not possible to have pristine condition as freshly mixed synthetic salt-mix and water.

As the NSW age, these organisms will flourish and/or die depending on the condition of the NSW storage and food supply available.

Some buy NSW is to save cost on salt-mix.

I uses NSW when I am cycling 1st to save cost and most importantly, I wanted to add some of the micro-organisms found in NSW which I belief cannot be found in synthetic mix. However, as my tank progresses, I prefer to use salt-mix to maintain the parameters.

Also as NSW is harvested from nature, you cannot have guaranteed parameters:

* when NSW are harvested during rain, the NSW will have low salinity

* when NSW is harvested during full moon, you may get gametes and eggs of corals and fishes

* when NSW is harvested when there is a recent discharge of waste, you will get harmful chemical

So it is not fair to blame the LFS as what they can do to to NSW is limited:

* most NSW are harvested in coastal water that are deem clean by the contractor

* most LFS will pump the NSW into a large darken container for settlement of impurity before bagging

* some LFS will include some filters/media to polish the water before bagging

Hope that helps.

[stevenchia]

Good clarification and very detailed. Something to add in.. Still water in bag that for too long may not have any planktons or bacteria.

[gymbvolka]

speaking from experience and from US Site and like to share here :

I think using NSW is ok, It think it depend on the live stock you are keeping also. (SPS need very good water parameter and consistences, so it might be at risk)

Is good to test a few round on your current NSW source first, look for for consistence supplier and then decide. Eliminate those supplier that always give bad water parameter.

Even if you add in NSW, you still need to check for PH , SG, KH and add them accordingly.

A good biological system will help to lower nitrate and P04 fast.

I have no problem using NSW for my LPS , fishes and easy care sps like Monti,

In fact NSW has beneficial elements and bacteria.

just sharing here.

[Michaelenamira]

can lfs ( saltwater for marine fish ), use for cleaning our foot also? wondering,

[hydrox78]

I am also using NSW and my LPS coral are doing well.

Need to add in KH and PH buffer and other additives such as Cal , Mg and adjust to idea. because normal NSW parameter usually lower

[geckus]

For fun I measure the seawater at low tide and at high tide for nitrates, it's 2.5ppm and 0.2ppm respectively. Use at ur own risk. Just to gauge the nitrates in the sea. Cheers

[hydrox78]

For fun I measure the seawater at low tide and at high tide for nitrates, it's 2.5ppm and 0.2ppm respectively. Use at ur own risk. Just to gauge the nitrates in the sea. Cheers

u mean you collect the water near the beach?

I wonder where does our supplier draw our NSW from? anyone can advise?

[patricklhc]

What I hear say hear say is that usually those nsw that we are getting from lfs are drawn 15-20m from surface water. Locally the better quality water are from somewhere near sister island.

Ps/ above are hear say from my fishing kakis I am not sure how true this information is and did not bother to find out more cos I'm always using salt mix

[braincoral]

Resort world aquarium collect their source

from sentosa water...

But then again their system super high tech one..

So risk is very low. ..

[thairun]

I am also using NSW and my LPS coral are doing well.

Need to add in KH and PH buffer and other additives such as Cal , Mg and adjust to idea. because normal NSW parameter usually lower

Just for your guideline to share. I check NSW periodically before use from my reputable regular supplier before use in my tank.

SG 1.021 refractrometer

Kh 8dkh api

Calcium 310ppm salifert

Magnesium 1100ppm salifert

NO3 0ppm api absolute yellow

PO4 0ppm hanna

No matter what i will run pass my water 3 jerrycan through carbon block to my big drum (preventive measure). Then add in mag chloride and calcium chloride to beef up according to chemical calculator to make mg 1400ppm n ca 400ppm. Add in further tropic marine salt to adjust sg at 1.026 as my tank is sps dominated. Cycle water, wait for at least 12 prior in using.

All my LS doing great except pink color sps.

Just a question to any expert, any additive can support this color.

Appreciate if u can help.

Thanks in advance.

[gymbvolka]

Just for your guideline to share. I check NSW periodically before use from my reputable regular supplier before use in my tank.

SG 1.021 refractrometer

Kh 8dkh api

Calcium 310ppm salifert

Magnesium 1100ppm salifert

NO3 0ppm api absolute yellow

PO4 0ppm hanna

No matter what i will run pass my water 3 jerrycan through carbon block to my big drum (preventive measure). Then add in mag chloride and calcium chloride to beef up according to chemical calculator to make mg 1400ppm n ca 400ppm. Add in further tropic marine salt to adjust sg at 1.026 as my tank is sps dominated. Cycle water, wait for at least 12 prior in using.

All my LS doing great except pink color sps.

Just a question to any expert, any additive can support this color.

Appreciate if u can help.

Thanks in advance.

Can PM me where u get NSW source?

[midniteguy]

i used to buy my salt water from an online seller at ard 20$ for 20L

[kohwhl]

Thanks for the info to let all of us be aware of all these. Next time just go to reputable ones

[LittleBurger]

i used to buy my salt water from an online seller at ard 20$ for 20L

wah... $20 for 20L? Per litre $1....

[rekian]

i used to buy my salt water from an online seller at ard 20$ for 20L

Iwarna ultra filtered seawater only $4 / 10L. Yours is way too expensive, I rather mix my own saltwater. Personally prefer to cycle tank with NSW then convert to saltwater as you do water change.

[K3nneth]

This for sharing!

[sanhas]

Scary...I myself had the same bad experience. Cause death to my fishes after water change from la's water.

[jythong]

I think salinity is another issue when using Nsw. I have been using Nsw from a certain eastern LFS for years and measure salinity occasionally. I know that the salinity from this LFS always tends to be on the low side, so I sometimes top up water that has evaporated with more salt water. This morning tested salinity whiile doing water change and was shocked to find that it has gone quite low (1.016-7). I may have to consider alternative sources soon.

[braincoral]

Better check parameter esp salinity first.

I got it before..salinity only 1.016...

Many corals up lorry....

Now using red sea coral pro...

V gd...