The Salt....

[ozquarium]

Lately I've spent a lot of money trying to set up my saltwater aquarium just right and do everything by the book, but I've since talked to various people I know who say they just got water straight from the ocean and put it in their tank with a normal filter and have had a thriving tank full of fish. Is there any reason to pay for a salt mixture to make up the salt water yourself when you've got access to the ocean?

 

[match55]

Yes
the ocean have current every sec to exchange water, while our aquarium only have specialy amount of water.

don't know if u even heard of monterey aquarium. (I think most big aquarium do that too)
they direct their water from the ocean to their whole aquarium. making the ocean the big sump~

you can try to use ocean water, but I will keep my eyes on para and other bad creature come with the water. since the water u get from the ocean will probably have tons of live form inside, if they die off in your tank, then your nitrate will raise like a rocket.

 

[Mitchell0605]

Yeah there are pros and cons for each but if you have a smaller tank I recommend mixing yourself.

 

[melosu58]

You have to worry about water pollution also.

 

[Kurt_Nelson]

Even aquariums that get their water from the ocean STILL filter it through sand beds and normally run UV on it - and some even run it through skimmers... so it's not like they're using water right from the ocean.