water from the ocean

[Fcamdog]

For my new tank I used water from the ocean. Before you freak out I live in Hawaii and went to a clean area of the coast for it. Here's the problem...the salinity measured 1.028 after the water and sand(from the same coast) were added and had settled down. What happened? I have my BakPak running constantly and the power compact running 6 hours a day while I let things adjust. I have been doing 2 1/5 gallon water changes and adding fresh water daily and after 4 of these the salinity is 1.023. Any guesses or insight into what happened? There was a lot of aquatic life where I collected the water and sand. Fish, reef, algea, corals...you name it. Thanks for the help.

[Reef Engineer]

Fcam,

You need to change your profile - it says you're in Yuma still. [img]/ubb/biggrin.gif[/img] One obvious thing that could have affected the readings is the temperature that you took the salinity readings. The readings are temperature dependent so different temps will yield different results.

Another "obvious" thing could be loss of salt through salt creep. Although only "fresh" water evaporates, many times the salt will end up on the top glass of the tank, along fixtures, etc - this loss of salt can affect the salinity readings - although it really shouldn't do anything appreciably.

Best of luck to ya,

Randy

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[scubadude]

Aloha Fcam [img]/ubb/smile.gif[/img]

Welcome to reefland!

I 2nd everything Randy said! also .028 might be a tad too high but its not too bad I keep my tank at .025 or .026 and from what I have seen alot of ppl keep this range of salinity. HTH [img]/ubb/biggrin.gif[/img]

[Wind]

Fcamdog.

Which isle are you? So how you liking it here?

GOOD LUCK. WHere did you collect sand? I need to find a good spot.

BYE

[Mobious]

Fcamdog when you checked you SG did you wash out your hydrometer with fresh water (Not fresh salt water)?? If not this could give you a false reading..

IMO, I still wouldnt use water from the ocean.. No matter how clean the area looks.. I am sure you have some boats that go by the area you got your water and sand.. So you have fuel and oil in the water, that's just to name a few.

[FishKid]

isnt that as illegal as it gets? [img]/ubb/smile.gif[/img] if i was in hawaii, i would be netting my own fish! catch any iguanas yet??

[Fcamdog]

I collected my sand and water on the Marine Base off a reef filed coast. No boats go there and it's on the windward side of the island and there are no military ops there. The SG is now 1.023 from freshwater changes and everything is doing well. There was a lot of life I didn't think I had collected with my water and sand. As soon as I squeeze the money out of my wife I'll be getting my PADI cert and start diving. That's when all the cool fish start rolling in. That's it for now. Anyone have any good books on breeding clown fish?

[chromis]

Joyce Wilkerson's Clownfishes is a good book on clownfishes. Isn't it illegal to have corals in Hawaii?
Andrew

[Fcamdog]

I haven't read all the regulations yet, but yes it is illegal to have coral and even live rock here in Hawaii. All I got from the ocean was my sand and water, which is legal. Some small crabs were in the sand that I didn't notice and I somehow caught a baby blennie when I was getting some water. My tank is definetly bare but there are a few stores that sell dead coral that they get somewhere besides Hawaii so I might but a couple pieces in for more decoration. The positive side to being here is that fish are so cheap and there are so many to choose from. Hopefully soon I'll start collecting some fish on my own as well.

[ravenmore]

The salinity of most of the worlds ocean's is about 1.027 - you weren't too far off from that and the extra .001 could have been from your hydrometer being a little off (or maybe the water around hawaii is 1.028 ). A lot of folks are re-thinking salinity in their tanks and keeping it closer to what the salinity is on reefs. I personally try to keep mine at about 1.025 or 1.026.

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[This message has been edited by ravenmore (edited 05-19-2001).]

[Wind]

Well. the corals here sucks.. Only SPS. i think..