Collecting Water

[doktor doris]

Hullo chaps,

I have been reading the marine section and wondering about a marine set-up.

I have noticed that the salt, and minerals and buying Ro water, or buying a RO unit are all rather costly.

Is there any reason to not just go to the coast every weekend, fill up a receptacle and bring it home.

thanks

doris

 

[scott133]

hi

it just depends where you live.but you would be best just makeing you own

 

[Buddyboy67]

You can unfortunately run the risk of introducing pathogens and pollutants by doing this...
Saying this, I do know a couple of people who do this regularly..
If you can ensure that no pollutant is present it can be done, however I personally wouldn't risk it myself
Also if you live in a temperate area the bio load, ie phyto and zoo plankton, will die off at the higher temperatures in your tank, raising dissolved nutrient levels in your tank....

 

[doktor doris]

Ah, I thought it wouldn't be that simple.

thanks

doris

 

[ben1987]

there are people that run fairly decent set ups usuing this method, i for one wouldnt risk the expensive corals and fish we end up buying by trying to save a few quid on salt.

 

[Alex Brown]

Buy a large tub. For a £50 tub of salt, that lasts me just under a year. Not bad when you work out how much that is per water change.

 

[doktor doris]

Wooah there!

I haven't even decided to get a marine tank yet!

I have only been keeping fish a few months, but I have 5 tanks now.

I started on chilids last week, but I keep looking at marine tanks.

doris

 

[kj23502]

you've got MTS BAD!!!!

I spent about 6 months to a year just reading before I actually set up my tank. Reading is vital. Better to buy equipment once because you know what to get than to have say "Oh crap I should've bought that instead" and have to go buy something else.

 

[Crazy fishes]

You could if you wanted look into the species that live in your area then create a biotope. You could consider keeping carbon in the tank as well if you are particularly worried about polutants and a UV sterilizer for pathogens. The UV sterilizer would be a one off payment and then running costs.

For a time, and even now to a degree, I was particularly interested in a biotope tank as I live in the Southeast of the UK but then when researching it I learnt that the sewage treatment is non existent down here. They seem to pump it straight out in to the Channel after filtering the large lumps . Not good!! Apparently, the local area produces a volume of sewage equivalent to two olympic sized swimming pool every day. While the salinity generally kills most bacteria off rapidly, within a few hours, viruses are not really affected at all. There are plans for a three stage sewage treatment plant (i.e the top facility with the best processing; UV sterilisation as the last stage) but the locals are kicking up a fuss about the location. It seems they just don't care about the untold damage being afflicted on the marine life that calls the the channel their home.. A real shame.....

Regards