Wich is best: Sea water or Synthetic Salt water

Pomachantus Paru · #1 09/12/2004, 12:20 PM

I would like to know this, because my sea water distributor is having some problems with nitrates and i'm thinking of start using synthetic salt.
Thanks

thedude · #2 09/12/2004, 02:01 PM

It sounds like his source may be contaminated. NSW is what I would prefer.

Aquatect · #3 09/12/2004, 06:53 PM

Well... if you want to pay like $3 a gallon for water then sure. I've never used it and have great success with corals and fish on synthetic, so I figure why change?

Bomber · #4 09/12/2004, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pomachantus Paru
I would like to know this, because my sea water distributor is having some problems with nitrates and i'm thinking of start using synthetic salt.
Thanks

Is he keeing it stored before he delivers? Filtering it?

Nitrates are a problem with age. Have him check his filters or detritus in the bottom of his storage tank.

NSW is better than anything you can buy.

Pomachantus Paru · #5 09/12/2004, 08:06 PM

Thanks all,
I'll start using synthetic water in the first change I make, so wich salt is better, because I'm here in Rio de Janeiro, I have the possibility of using Tropic Marin, Coralife, and Sera. Which you think would be the best.

Aquatect · #6 09/12/2004, 11:06 PM

I use Tropic Marin. Of those choices thats the best I think. I've never heard of Sera though. Tropic Marin is also coming out with a salt with a different Alk designed for reef tanks, so that may be a perk if your looking to do a reef. It should be out late october I believe.

Randy Holmes-Farley · #7 09/13/2004, 09:24 AM

If the natural seawater is clean and pure, it may be preferable to artificial seawater. If not, it may be worse. I elect to use Instant Ocean. I wouldn't pick Coralife, but would instead opt for Tropic Marin, if those were my choices, although I do not know anything about Sera.

OUinLA · #8 09/16/2004, 03:04 AM

Has anyone heard of Ocean Pure?

Randy Holmes-Farley · #9 09/16/2004, 07:15 AM

I'm not familiar with it.

PRC · #10 09/16/2004, 12:38 PM

Randy,
Just wondering your thoughts on the recent article in Advanced Aquarist?
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issu...04/feature.htm
I'd say it supports your statement above:
"If the natural seawater is clean and pure, it may be preferable to artificial seawater. If not, it may be worse."
Question is: How do you know if your NSW is clean and pure?

Randy Holmes-Farley · #11 09/16/2004, 01:36 PM

It isn't easy to know, and that's part of the problem with using NSW.

I think the study is quite interesting. We discuss it a bit here:

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...hreadid=435454