sea water vs salt mixed

[sunnymau]

as above, anyone can share with which one is better? treated sea water or salt mixed

[lightningstrike]

cannot really rell u which is better, it's all up to u.

but least for me, i hv never used sea water b4.

ask urself these questions,

the sea water i bought from lfs, issit cycled? did they add any additives? if they did, which exact additives did they add? r the sea water parameters right? issit safe?

many more questions......... that's why i rather use salt mixed.

[silverfish]

IMO, salt mix is better; maybe a bit more expensive. But you know that there is no phospate, silicate in the salt. Also they have beneficial additives added too..

[woonming]

seawater levels for example calcium or kh is very low..

always do a test if the seawater purchase is free or low in NO2 and NO3.

some source that sell it has very high levels in the above 2 element.

which u are or would be adding more NO3 into ur reef system other than exporting them

[patrick123]

I personally prefer salt mix. You never know where the seawater are from. One of the LFS told me that they got it from Changi point. One of the woolu area. After that, they put it in their fiberglass tank and run for weeks to remove the ammonia and nitrite. How can you trust this compare to those reputable brand of marine salt mix that are made in USA that comes with all the essential trace element that is designed specifically for marine tank?

Also, to carry saltwater is so heavy. I almost broke my back once trying to carry 5 bags home. Whereas sea salt is so convenient and light.

In any case, the salt mix should not be used immediately. It is best to let them settle for a few hours before use.

Cheers,

Patrick

[19percula]

for me i use saltwater for a very long time already

seem no pro for me

i think the issue here is where u should get the sea water from

[Matt06]

I use both, I will collect sea water myself, usually I will change every 2 weeks of 20l of natural sea water... and sure, I do have salt mix as well..

[patrick123]

Where do you collect your sea water? I hope is not at marine parade. hehehehe

[Matt06]

Southern island.

[Matt06]

the only place in singapore where you can find clear blue water... But vis. not that good though... keke.

[augustine]

I've been using see water from day 1 and its been 3 years.

All my corals are doing wonderful and live stock healthy.

I do a 10% water change only once a month.

Most of the guys here prefer salt mix, but its all up to you. If you go for sea water, find a good reliable source and stick to them.

BTW, no LFS here cycle water for weeks and then sell to you. I think its crap, we're lucky if its even 3 days old.

Cheers.

[yongwil]

Hi

Can tell the actual place to take water, Southern where, Sentosa?

And do you do filtering after collect the water.

Thk

[Achilles Tang]

After having personally seen the seawater taken from some areas of Singapore... I can say that water taken at high tide facing the high seas, away from areas of little commercial activities or land construction activity or land fertilziation and not while it is raining would mean that the seawater is actually good enough to use for LFS operations and maybe even for reef tanks.

Of course, there may be some variations from the standard water parameters like PH, salinity, calcium and alkalinity in natural saltwater vs prepared saltmix and to a certain extent, risk from unwanted phosphates & other untestable pollutants etc.