well first i am really really tierd of doing salt mix and get a good mix now i just got a delivery of sea water because i am moving and i am having problems with alkalinity i test it the water ad is perfect to every single test now my Q? are

1- is it bad to keep 300g of sea water in a container to do water changes

2-do i have to keep the water moving all the time or can i put a pump on a timer a few time a day

3- should i keep my sand bed which is 6 months old or should i just get a hall new sand bed

4- and the last one changing the sand bed will it cost me to star over a new cycle

thanks and hope to get some answers

Manny

Manny, I by no means have all of the answers, but I do have some theories:

If you store seawater, wouldn't you need to deal with a possible issue with the die off of the living microrganisms? If we put seawater direct into our established tanks, we have the cleaners to handle any die off, but wouldd htere be an issue if put into a container and stored without any light?

I would say with seawater, you would want to keep it moving. I don't always keep my mixed SW moving, but nothing is alive in it.

I would keep my SB. It is live sand that would be beneficial. People pay top $$$ for live sand...

Manny,

When I started my tank I used all sand from a tank a guy was taking down. I did not have anything in my tank though and that could make a difference. Could you try to scoop the sand out in layers so the anerobic stuff doesn't get brought to the top?

I don't know if i would add seawater into my tank. I always thought that an aquarium was more sensitive than the ocean and water from the ocean could potentially crash the tank. But i haven't researched anything it just how i have been thinking. I'm anxious to see the results of this thread.

west i satar it my tank with seawater from day 1 and i haven't had a problem till my kal reactor overdose my tank so thats why i am doing a 100% water change to seawater

i did testit the water and is perfect 100% i have close to 300g wich i am planing to to have a 300g container tank to do my 10% water change every weeck and every time i need more seawater i just go to the beach and refill

I dont care what anyone says http://www.alexander-oberg.de/smileys/viecher/ms_shorts.gif you start moving or taking anything out your going to see slight ripples in parameters. I belive its the muturity of the system as a whole that controls or dictates how it bounces back after disruptions.

Keeping anything in containers without circulation is a bad idea. can you say the word "stagnant" Food safe materials and closed lids keep some of the nasty bactera out, but who are we kidden, the stuffs everywhere anyways. collecting from the oceans unless its way offshore is prob host to the same populations of both good & bad. Personally i think in our attempt to control nature in a box we somehow got alittle carried away with the whole " sterile thing" Sure take steps the "limit it" i just wouldn't lose sleep over it. just like moving things like you sand bed. If you have confidence in your abilities to manage fluctuations i say go for it, really churn that sucker up! Who's to say osmotic differences & light from the top to the bottom dont govern survival anyhow. Also keeping in mind die off is only food for another source anyways. Ive seen your tank & your abillities manny, You have the knowledge to dictate how any situation is handled.



The only suggestion i would make is if your just going to constantly top-up the containment vessile with NSW that you ether
a) hook a UV to it for the long term sanitation factor,
b) throw in some junk rock & rubble just to keep a substate for activity.