Can use sea water for every water change?

[JS1077]

Hi brothers,

My tank was started with salt mixed water and sump with cheato planted for about 45 days, loaded with LPS and 29 fishes (biggest fish at 5") in 4x2x2" tank. Was thinking to cut cost on salt, can somebody advice me starting from next water change use sea water for 10% every week?

[comycus]

That's v. fast stocking for such a new tank. How are your tank parameters holding up? I think you will suffer casualties for being so impatient.

NSW can be used, but you will prob want to test and correct the parameters of nsw to ensure it is as close as your tank water.

Might also have to add additives to increase your ca, kh, maybe even mg levels as I believe they are normally quite low to sustain our corals.

[MOssrope]

you may like to hold back on NSW for a period of time.

i dumped a bag of NSW in recently and my skimmer came to a halt in productiviy, it led me to think that some oil remanants are still present the NSW.

been a few days and i am still watching.

can be other reasons, not sure if someone else had this same issue recently. ( yeah that oil spill)

[jackywongto]

woah... 29 fishes... 45 days ......

**jaw dropped.... hahah.... thats quite a lot....

[TayHongSiang]

woah... 29 fishes... 45 days ......

**jaw dropped.... hahah.... thats quite a lot....

can be 29 neon gobies...

[JS1077]

Hi brothers,

Thanks for fast response, I didn't buy any test kits as $$ dry up. Trying to observe fishes and coral behaviour to test on water, but did add trace element (they call top up consists of KH, megnassium, ca) from Iwana to add weekly. Even when purchased fishes or coral, all sea water are pour into my tank. So far no death report except 2 pink firefish jump out within 2 weeks, 1 purple fire fish missing and 1 three bend clown was fight till death for anemone host, 3 Queen anthiens (hope spelling correct) for 2 weeks doing OK. Anchor hammper, bubble cat eyes doing good, flower pot given away, sea fans (brown, blue and red) doing good, yellow polyps, red musfroom, zoae, clove coral, super sun with daily feeding growing doing good.

Tank equipments:

1) H&S skimmer

2) T5 x 6, (white x4 & blue x 2)

3) 1/5 artica chiller

4) Hyro wave maker x 1

5) 1262 x 1

6) 2000 l/h china power head for current flow at at bottom point back and from

7) 13" x 15" x 12" cheato in sump with 6" zero sands with 24/7 white LED light on.

8) coral chip and some LR in sump

Just hope for the best!

[oceanviper]

you may like to hold back on NSW for a period of time.

i dumped a bag of NSW in recently and my skimmer came to a halt in productiviy, it led me to think that some oil remanants are still present the NSW.

been a few days and i am still watching.

can be other reasons, not sure if someone else had this same issue recently. ( yeah that oil spill)

Hi MOssrope.....

What do you mean by skimmer came to a halt in productivity?

Not sure whether is the same of what you facing....

Recently I also change water very frequent after fish infested by white spot....

What I noticed was that my skimmer will skimmed out dilute clear water very fast and need to clear my collection cup less than 1/2 hrs after water change.....

Is this what you experienced?

Btw...i also spoken to Iwarna where i got the NSW from....

[jackywongto]

Hi MOssrope.....

What do you mean by skimmer came to a halt in productivity?

Not sure whether is the same of what you facing....

Recently I also change water very frequent after fish infested by white spot....

What I noticed was that my skimmer will skimmed out dilute clear water very fast and need to clear my collection cup less than 1/2 hrs after water change.....

Is this what you experienced?

Btw...i also spoken to Iwarna where i got the NSW from....

bingo......! you got it bro.

oily = skim just water.

same symptom as Moss.

[oceanviper]

bingo......! you got it bro.

oily = skim just water.

same symptom as Moss.

Hi Jacky bro.....

Now I'm still wondering whether now is safe to get NSW....

FYI....all my SPS bleached within 2 days... not sure this is due to the NSW /....

[onizukaa]

hmmm.. speaking of the skimmer.

my deltec AP851 recently stop skimming.

i have to tune the water up so high then it started to skim (after i change NSW 2 packets)

after 2 days i tune back to the original water level and start to foam, 1-2 days later it stop foaming and it's not skimming as the water level drop very low.

it's brought last last sunday.

this hits me after i read this thread..

think must clean the eheim pump for the skimmer liao

[jackywongto]

Hi Jacky bro.....

Now I'm still wondering whether now is safe to get NSW....

FYI....all my SPS bleached within 2 days... not sure this is due to the NSW /....

ouch... wow... sorry to hear that.... within 2 days after WC?

maybe other NSW user can chime in......

Perhaps it is safer to depend on salt mix water for the time being.

you can get that from AM and SL.

[oceanviper]

ouch... wow... sorry to hear that.... within 2 days after WC?

maybe other NSW user can chime in......

Perhaps it is safer to depend on salt mix water for the time being.

you can get that from AM and SL.

Hi Jacky....

Yup... only 2 days and gone all my SPS....even the hardy (Monti & birdnest) die.....

Think better stick to salt mix for the time being.....

Thanks.

[comycus]

Actually for SPS keepers, I don't think it's advisable to use NSW at all because SPS require v. stringent water parameters. Salt mix would be better.

[yikai]

you can use NSW to do water change in SPS tank. just wether colour nice or not

[Copperband]

Have used NSW for my sps tank before..... No problems....but pls pay attention to CA/KH/MAG levels.... maybe its just that now due to the oil spill... maybe will have issues.... just wait it out lo... time being use Synthetic Seawater..... Perhaps i only dare use the NSW only next year ....

[raydiative]

Hi brothers,

Thanks for fast response, I didn't buy any test kits as $$ dry up. Trying to observe fishes and coral behaviour to test on water, but did add trace element (they call top up consists of KH, megnassium, ca) from Iwana to add weekly. Even when purchased fishes or coral, all sea water are pour into my tank. So far no death report except 2 pink firefish jump out within 2 weeks, 1 purple fire fish missing and 1 three bend clown was fight till death for anemone host, 3 Queen anthiens (hope spelling correct) for 2 weeks doing OK. Anchor hammper, bubble cat eyes doing good, flower pot given away, sea fans (brown, blue and red) doing good, yellow polyps, red musfroom, zoae, clove coral, super sun with daily feeding growing doing good.

Tank equipments:

1) H&S skimmer

2) T5 x 6, (white x4 & blue x 2)

3) 1/5 artica chiller

4) Hyro wave maker x 1

5) 1262 x 1

6) 2000 l/h china power head for current flow at at bottom point back and from

7) 13" x 15" x 12" cheato in sump with 6" zero sands with 24/7 white LED light on.

8) coral chip and some LR in sump

Just hope for the best!

Bro, pls do get test kits to test your parameters...

also, its is highly not advisable to pour in the sea water from your purchases into your tank... i suppose you did not aclimatise your fishes??

many reefers have posted this question before but i think its more of a personal opinion in terms of NSW or Salt Mix..

for me i vote for Saltmix

[Copperband]

This was my tank last time... couple of reefers could attest accompanying me and helping me lug lots of jerrycan worth of water....

[digibee]

Hi, I have been using NSW for my weekly water change.

No problem with my ls and skimmer.

Also usually I add iwarna minerals top up when doing water change.

Cheers!

[JS1077]

Wow, I guess have to take risk and test out personally. Anyway, your advices are much appreciated!

[GoofFish]

Hi, I have been using NSW for my weekly water change.

No problem with my ls and skimmer.

Also usually I add iwarna minerals top up when doing water change.

Cheers!

same same.. no problem either..

[GoofFish]

This was my tank last time... couple of reefers could attest accompanying me and helping me lug lots of jerrycan worth of water....

nice tank, bruder.. still dun give me the urge to go for SPS.. hahaha..