Free Saltwater

[kiwis]

So I'm pricing up my new marine aquarium and the salt itself is very expensive where I live.

I've been lead to believe using water from the ocean is common and a successful option.

I live in New Zealand so the water quality is good albeit a but cold. But I can heat the before using it no problem.

Other than adjusting the salinity (if required) in principal it seems like a great option.

Can anyone add any thoughts to this? who has tried it? is it really common and effective?

Cheers

 

[melosu58]

Water close to shore is usually polluted with contaminants. You would have to go miles out in the ocean to get water halfway clean enough to use and then you would have to deal with parasites also.

 

[herp_mommy]

bad bad bad idea. You have no idea what you could be introducing into your tank. Not only would you have to worry about contaminates, but also hitchhikers and disease.

 

[Macscale]

Yeah. Not a good idea. Way to many contaminants, parasites, all stuff that you don't want.