Saltwater Begginer

I<3Platys

Small Fish
Jun 30, 2012
28
0
0
California
#1
Hi everyone! So I have a beach house up in Florida that has a 125 gallon tank in the attic. I recently pulled it down and bought the proper filter and everything. I know how to set up a saltwater tank; I have a 125 gallon cycling as well at home but I have one simple question. Since I'm right on the beach, could I use saltwater from the ocean for my tank water rather than establishing salt water from fresh water. I'm also planning on stocking with fish that get washed up on the shores and get washed into pools of water on the sand. Can I do that? Anyway, either way, could I use water from the ocean? Thanks.
 

CAPSLOCK

Elite Fish
Jul 19, 2004
3,682
33
48
38
Cape Cod
#2
Water from the ocean: definitely yes. Ideally not near outlets from streams and such that may carry pollutants. Also ideally, not right at the shore line - a little further out into the water is better. You know how a protein skimmer works, using bubbles to collect scum that floats? Crashing waves work pretty much much the same way, creating bubbles that scum sticks to... so the brown foam at the shoreline is what you want to avoid. Out on a jetty is probably easiest and best if you don't have a boat. But wading out a little ways will work too. There are some piers and stuff where they have accessible spigots set up for this; you might be able to check around if there are any in the area.

Since it is a warm enough climate, you may need to do stuff to "clean" the water afterwards if you want to be sure you're protected from parasites and such that would survive in your tank. I'm sure you can google how to do so ("natural sea water"). Or at the least, you can just let the junk settle to the bottom and not use the last inch or so of water.

Collecting critters - not sure, you probably need a license to legally do that. But things like crabs and such from the beach, you would probably not be able to have survive in the tank unless you had above water space for them - hermits and snails that live below the tidal zone are what would survive in the tank.
 

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