[e_baer]

I have heard that some people put natural ocean water in their tank......think this is smart to do? It is water from other coral reefs, people from florida and australia. I dont plan on doing this, i was just wondering.

[kolokefalo]

If you live on the coast and have access to get about 3-5 miles offshore its a ok idea, not a great one. Remember youre aquarium is a microhabitat with its own set of water parameters and life. i don't believe in introducing "foreign" matter into mine. In order to get some really nice clean clear water you have to get away from the beaches and then you have to worry about parasites which naturally occur in seawater dinoflagelletates and such. With the quality of synthetic sea salt today to me it just seems silly.

[Marc Smith]

I live here in the north east NH to be exact. I know a reefer that has been doing it for 30 years with an amazing tank. There are several people that I know of who do it with great sucess. First I was told you need to run the water thru carbon. Second you need to premix all your values. IE: Calcium, and Alk. There is some place I can imagine the water quality is aweful, but I would not hesitate to go this route after doing some research. Let me see If i can get my buddy to chime in on this thread, and join up over here.

[e_baer]

I mean, it makes perfect sanse to me, especially considering the water parameters will almost always be the same. The only thing you would need to worry about is disease. Run it through a serious of UV sterilizers, and your good to go!

[Marc Smith]

I was told a boat ramp is a great place to collect it...

I'd do it first thing in the Am right after low tide, and tide is high. Pump, some barrels and away you go!