Syntheic seawater Vs. Natural seawater for breeding

[gillz888]

Which would be better for a broodstock system, synthetic seawater or filtered/sterilized natural seawater? What are the pros and cons of each? All opinions would be greatly appreciated.

[Scottt]

What kind of fish? Clowns are so hardy, I don't think it matters for them.
Are you able to collect NSW far enough away from a city?

[Suzy]

I think it would be great to have natural seawater for my tanks!

I think that is why Ocean Rider has such great success. I wonder if they have natural seawater flowing through their systems continuously?

But, could city pollution affect where you are?

[gillz888]

The water I am using is from an aquaculture lab and is pulled from the intercostal waterway in NC. They are pulling from from 30 to 50 ft deep and are filtering with drum filters, sand filters, canisters up to 1 micron, and UV. They have used this water for years with no obvious problems, but most are using it for indigenous species. Some have choosen to also bleach the water first before use, but the flow rate through the UV is pretty slow and is a large unit. The fish I will be attempting to breed are Pajama Cardinalfish (Sphaeramia nematoptera).

[Suzy]

It sounds great to me...

[Clownfish75]

cant go past that, if an aquaculture facility uses it i would too. And if its cheaper its even better.

Christian

[jeff@zina.com]

I believe ORA uses NSW, I know Harbor Branch does (or did a few years ago). Mote Marine's breeding facilities also use NSW. So does the Tampa Bay Aquarium and Miami's Rosenthiel School. Lots of precedence for using it.

I have no idea if there would be a difference in production, growth or survivability, but it would be less expensive.

Jeff

[BaboonScience]

So, they are getting the water from a well under the ICW in coastal North Carolina, right?
Cleaned up, it should be good.
What is the salinity flux, High to low tide?
John

[gillz888]

I don't think it is a well, but just a deep area in the intercoastal waterway. Every time I have tested it it has never been lower than 31 ppt or higher than 35 ppt.

[BaboonScience]

Then I would think that you are good to go.
Where on the ICW, if I might ask?

[gillz888]

The lab is in Morehead City, NC and the NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores is very close by and they use NSW.

[Scottt]

Whats the price difference? and the scale of your operation.
It seems to me that whatever one is easier is probably the better one. I think they both work equally well for fishes.
I have more experience with Synthetic, and know it works well for breeding fish. I don't see how water from the ocean could possibly be worse, if it is treated like you mention.

[gillz888]

I am in the aquaculture program at the college, so the filtered nsw is free.

[BaboonScience]

I am in the aquaculture program at the college, so the filtered nsw is free.

OK, now we get down to it.
FREE.
Free almost always trumps cost.
Free and natural.......I say go for it.
John

[Scottt]

+1 John. Use the NSW gillz888

[Kmiec123]

Natural would be the most cost cutting way to get and keep clean water. You can always dose trace elements if you feel you need them more than what is avilible in Nautral. That would be the only possible advantage to synthetic, but I don't think we have the info on that one way or the other. Sounds like a good study to start.

[Suzy]

You are lucky to have such a valuable resource to use.

I live next to the Great Salt Lake. Think I could use that water? JK, of course.

It grows great brine shrimp!

[gillz888]

I agree that I am very fortunate to have such a great resource and saving money is great for a broke college student. Thanks for the help everyone!