Anyone use NSW from the Puget Sound?

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skinz78

clam guy!
Joined
Oct 8, 2007
Messages
414
Location
lovely rainy NW Washington
I'm considering using NSW from the sound and I am wondering what everyone thinks of it? If you use it can you please post pic's of your tank and list the inhabitants as well as how long you have used it for? How do you collect it, and how much do you collect at once. I wonder how long it can be safely stored before it go's bad?

I have quite a few clams and SPS's and I'm worried about the possibility of loosing them due to pollutants in the water.

It seems lame to me to be buying salt mix when I have salt water just 5 min away.
 
HAHAHAHAHAA! Im in Sooke, just up stream from you, our state of the arc(pun,pun,pun) sewer processing plant was redesigned during the build, they left out the processing part oops, straight flush Baby!
Ive heard of several people doing it without issue, Id for sure want to use a UV on it as the salmon farms are pumping out flukes like mad
 
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I don't know about the west coast but here on the east coast you've got to go off shore atleast 35 miles to get quailty water. I've checked sq. near shore and it's always low due to fresh water run off from rivers and rain also you never know what kind of bac. you might be getting also
 
I have used it on & off for several years, always collected it on incoming tides in Summer/dry months (fresh from the Straits) from our beach at Pt. No Pt. (Hansville, WA). I'd bring it home to warm it it up, step up the S.G.,Mg and Ca a bit while running it through carbon in a hang-on filter. Never had any issues but, more of something just to try as not very convenient or practical for continued use. Someone on the site here has used it long-term that he gest out of Discovery or Sequim Bay, just don't recall his user-name.
When I finally get to the point of setting up a larger 800-1000g system will definitely plan on using NSW from the Seattle Aquarium for initial fill.


Cheers, Todd
 
I'm considering using NSW from the sound and I am wondering what everyone thinks of it? If you use it can you please post pic's of your tank and list the inhabitants as well as how long you have used it for? How do you collect it, and how much do you collect at once. I wonder how long it can be safely stored before it go's bad?

I have quite a few clams and SPS's and I'm worried about the possibility of loosing them due to pollutants in the water.

It seems lame to me to be buying salt mix when I have salt water just 5 min away.

I would not collect it myself. Seattle aquarium has processed water but its not all that great either. I just watched a special called beneath the sound or something like that yesterday. The marine biologist stated that the PS is the most polluted part of the ocean in the entire world. :)

Don
 
Someone on the site here has used it long-term that he gest out of Discovery or Sequim Bay, just don't recall his user-name.

I know who you are talking about, I've personally seen his tank and it is one of the best looking tanks I have ever seen. But it is all LPS, Zoa's, and Ric's.

I would not collect it myself. Seattle aquarium has processed water but its not all that great either. I just watched a special called beneath the sound or something like that yesterday. The marine biologist stated that the PS is the most polluted part of the ocean in the entire world. :)

Don

I'm starting to think I am gonna pass on using it, I have way too many SPS colony's that I have grew from frags and clams to chance it.
 
I have used it on & off for several years, always collected it on incoming tides in Summer/dry months (fresh from the Straits) from our beach at Pt. No Pt. (Hansville, WA). I'd bring it home to warm it it up, step up the S.G.,Mg and Ca a bit while running it through carbon in a hang-on filter. Never had any issues but, more of something just to try as not very convenient or practical for continued use. Someone on the site here has used it long-term that he gest out of Discovery or Sequim Bay, just don't recall his user-name.
When I finally get to the point of setting up a larger 800-1000g system will definitely plan on using NSW from the Seattle Aquarium for initial fill.


Cheers, Todd

I use NSW from Sequim Bay. Have used it for years and had no problems at all. I always collect on slack high tide and only when the water is clear. The salinity is usually at 1.018-1.020 so I add reef salt to get it up to 1.024. I also add Reef Buffer to boost ph. My reef is mostly LPS with a few hardy SPS (2 of my SPS came from Dang 2 years ago). Currently dealing with Bryopsis (thank you son...lol) and have just ordered a jug of Kent Tech-M.
 
ive never seen that show but i dont think the puget sound is the most polluted water in the world! The seattle aquarium uses it 24/7 dont they...? I for one like making my own water and knowing its pure with a tds meter.
 
I have used water from Seattle Aquarium .... but non conclusive. The Seattle Aquarium does not use it's own filter puget sound salt water on the reef aquariums, but does of course for the other exhibits. You can sign up for an account, and get an access card to operate the water supply onthe loading dock there. Works great. I plan to continue to use this water for such things as quaranteen tank (i.e. for the repetetive water changes during quaranteen tank nad when cycling live rock, etc). Although I did use it on my DT, I have stopped primarily compelled that the Seattle Aquarium doesn't even use on their reef systems.
 
I grabbed water from the sound during slack tide. The water was pretty clear so I'm going to filter with a water polishing powerheads and a uv filter. I'm using it for my Coldwater tank. I called the Seattle aquarium and you have to put 35 dollars down to start the account. Not bad considering you can use that money towards buying the water.
 
There is one FS I know who does and I use to purchase my water from there when I started. I never had a problem but I know they had a thorough process. Give them a call Aquarium Paradise in Lakewood and ask for Dominic, he'll help on this.
 
No offense Darryl but I wouldn't recommend that shop to anyone lol. Reef water is 35 ppt Puget sound is 27ppt not to mention the difference in all parameters, bacteria, temp, ect..

I could be off but wouldn't you be killing all off the microscopic inverts and such in the collected water by dumping it in such a temperature difference as a reef tank? Isn't cold water way more nutrient dense than warm water?
 
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There is way more nutrients found in collected nsw almost to much for a tank. Even if it's temperate. That is why I am filtering it. But if I time it right and get pretty clean water it would be great for water changes. But I think for the initial fill of water in my 140 temperate it'll be mainly water from the seattle aquarium.
 
No offense taken. Point is I used that water before I purchased my RO/DI system and the process that the company that they purchase the water from is a know process and the specs on the water were spot on. I didn't recommend them to buy fish nor coral from the store but to find out their process. Since your the expert behind it why don't you go down to the store and buy some water and test it. This way you'll know for sure not to contact them. I would still find out there process I know there is two parts to it but the water which I purchased test for trace elements (that I had test kits for) and salinity was spot on. I had no algae blooms and my micro and macro plus coral and fish did very well.
 
There is way more nutrients found in collected nsw almost to much for a tank. Even if it's temperate. That is why I am filtering it. But if I time it right and get pretty clean water it would be great for water changes. But I think for the initial fill of water in my 140 temperate it'll be mainly water from the seattle aquarium.

I get what you mean. I was exclusively talking about adding puget sound water to a 77 degree reef tank..

No offense taken. Point is I used that water before I purchased my RO/DI system and the process that the company that they purchase the water from is a know process and the specs on the water were spot on. I didn't recommend them to buy fish nor coral from the store but to find out their process. Since your the expert behind it why don't you go down to the store and buy some water and test it. This way you'll know for sure not to contact them. I would still find out there process I know there is two parts to it but the water which I purchased test for trace elements (that I had test kits for) and salinity was spot on. I had no algae blooms and my micro and macro plus coral and fish did very well.

I used to buy ro/di water and salt water from them until i bought my first test kit. Im not saying you're going to kill anything with their water, but i know its generally high in phosphates. The reason Im not a fan of the store is because i got yelled at and told that I didn't know what i was talking about when i told a guy in there not to spend $120 on a two little fishies media reactor you can find anywhere for $30. Lonzo also told me to never come back, and that "all i ever do is come in his store and buy dry sand which is a waste of his time". Which I can understand him being upset for being called out on his dishonesty.. But what could i do? The guy was sitting in line talking about how much the price is hurting his pockets. Anyways all I am saying is there are plenty of sponsors on reef frontiers that supply water, as well as every grocery stores water units.
 
He not asking where to buy but has anyone used the local saltwater, AP does sell it and has a process. That is what my comment is saying not for the person to go and purchase or was that lost in the reading of his opening question. So how about we assist him and get off me.
 
I am merely trying to benefit people looking for different ways to acquire aquarium water and steering them away from a shop known for its horrible customer service. I am not directing anything towards you.
 
Can't say I'd try it for my tank but I'd love to see the results of someone else being the guinea pig :)
 

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