Yeah I just thought of that too. It's bad enough carrying my tackle. Maybe I'll bring home a sample & do a test on the water. I do have another spot where there is no boat traffic & harbor. The drawback is the hike to get to this place.
Maybe I'll just get some next time I go on a fishing boat trip. Pham you are the lucky one. I went to Kihei, Maui a couple years ago & I enjoyed the fishes out there. Is it true that in Hawaii you can't take live rocks from the beaches or reefs?
Or is it corals?
yupz unfortunatly thats the law. preservation is very strict here in hawaii. rocks sand even seaweed is restricted. well seaweed is 1lb per person per day. when you try to smuggle in coral to hawaii, they treat it as if it were drugs. sucks yah. you gotta go to the really secluded beaches to get what you need.
Pham is right. You really do want to steer clear of heavily used boating areas and marinas. If it is your ONLY choice, I would suggest testing the water, and testing it again. Also, if I were restricted to collecting in this type of area, I probably WOULD filter the water. The biggest concern with that jetty (nice area by the by) would be petroleum based pollutants from boats AND the fact that (honestly now) you can NOT guarentee that EVERYONE in that marina is using the pumping station (as madidate by law) in emptying their heads. Seriously...it's a nasty thought, but it happens everywhere.
Finally, at a strapping 38 years old, I'D NOT want to haul buckets up and down that breakwater. It'd kill me See if you can find a pal with a boat, or another area that has less boat traffic. I'm not so sure that a captain would let you take buckets out on his fishing party boat, but you could try!
Dave,
Yeah I think it's a not a good idea to risk it. Plus just hauling it would just kill my knees too..lol. I'm trying to nudge my buddy to get a hard bottom zodiac. He's been toying with the idea of getting one. If he does that should help me out. Most of my friends have bass boats or ski boats. Not sure if they are willing to bring it out in Saltwater..hehehe.
Thx,
John
I work in a LFS in northern California and for over 10 years we have use natural sea water(NSW) in all our systems. We purchase the NSW from a company called Aqua C. When we do water changes the corals really respond with greater polyp extension. The fish also look less stressed after a big water change. Some observations is with NSW we tend to get less salt creep. There have been occasions where we have used synthetic salts and had an increase in salt creep. With the NSW some trace levels of silicates are present. If a large water change is done we tend to get a bloom of diatoms. But our large Euro-reef skimmers keep it in check. From my observations I find that the benefits of the NSW defiantly out weigh the problems and I would recommend using NSW for anyone who has access to it.
I find that the benefits of the NSW defiantly out weigh the problems and I would recommend using NSW for anyone who has access to it.
James
i agree 100% on this 1. the benifits totally outways any problems you may encounter. just make sure the source your buying it from or picking up from is legit. if it is good water youll probably here from other aquariust how it is. i do NSW changes 1 a week about 5-10 percent of the time. i found that a simple uv filter takes care of the algae blooms.
hahha, yah i am a little spoiled. there is a catch though, i gotta drive 15 miles to get the water. thats the only downfall but other than that the water is awsome
ahhhh yes the abc stores. they are like the starbucks of minimarts here, cant go a block without running into 1. and 15 mile is far when you live on an island where everything is 15min away.
hehe
ah bringing back memories with the abc stores! I was only about 9-10 when I went to Hawaii, but I do remember those stores. I also remember a shuttle bus driver teaching me the 'hang loose hawaii' hand gesture, the blow hole, and visiting Pearl Harbor. I need to get back there sometime. Beautiful place!
Well I am about to use NSW on a large scale. Thanks to TR I am confident that I shopuld be OK.
Here is a link to the area I will be getting the water from - Yes the Irish sea. ring, waterford - Google Maps wow what a link.
So I am starting a live rock importing business and corals and critters wholesale to the local market here. I have a submersible pump - not saltwater frendly which will pump into 1000l containers which I will move to my site. Once there I have a UV sterliser - a big one to run the water through. This is all I have planned. I will test the water and make the changes needed. Anything else I should look out for? Oh yeah - i will be getting the water from a incomming tide. Can you believe I need a permit to take this water - Well I am told it will take 5 months but can't wait that long so will start in 2 weeks.
Just check for proper salinity, calcium levels etc. as you would with any water. After collection (especially if using UV) let it sit and you will note some sediment settle to the bottom. Use the water from the top down, leaving the sediment, which is really a mix of dead planktonic and other organic matter.
Simple as that!
Just remember, if there's anything about the water that you don't like, on any given day (excessive boat traffic and therefore silty water, gas or oil sheen etc.) then pass, for the day. It's not worth it to TRY to get SOME water, only to end up wasting time and dumping it.
See if you can find a pal with a boat, or another area that has less boat traffic. I'm not so sure that a captain would let you take buckets out on his fishing party boat, but you could try! 
"Just a Whole Bowl Of Wrong"