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Does the new and improved Steinhart still sell saltwater?

anathema

anathema

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Before the rebuild, I used to go to the back of the Steinhart Aquarium and purchase saltwater from their spigot that pumped saltwater from the pacific. The new one is certainly intimidating, and crowded, so I haven't made it back there other than a trip through to check it out from the inside. Has anyone tried to purchase water from them since the rebuild? I'm in the middle of setting up a new tank and I'd love to figure out a way to acquire some unfiltered, fresh from the ocean water cheaply without carrying all my containers 100 miles.
 
AFAIK nope, you can't . However I'm not sure that I would anyways, they do quite a bit of post filtering IIRC to their income supply plus it's diluted so they have to add in more salt. You might as well make your own at that point.

It would be funny/cool if you could get their water change water though I'm sure it's plenty clean enough and they dump that in the sewage anyways :D
 
Thanks, I was afraid that would be the case, that new facility is very upscale, and as usual upscale translates to less access and services for the public.

Tempted to drive down to Santa Cruz and fill all my containers at Long Marine Lab but that's a bit of a trip for water.

Fwiw, although I'm far from interested in debating the issue, I've been using ocean water for years now. Out of convenience, I usually purchase HMB water, which is filtered, but whenever I am outside the gate on an escort run during a flood tide I collect a gallon of water to add to my tanks. The last time I used water made from salt mix (the store was out of HMB water and I thought it would be more important to do a water change) I lost corals. Salt mix sucks. Just my opinion but I've arrived at it through personal experience.

The ocean is by far the best source of water for a saltwater aquarium. I just wish it wasn't such a pain in the ass to get it. The worst collection trip I had was when I attempted to collect water from Pillar Point Marina. I had been looking for a place to drive my car to the edge of the water, and had a mag 5 and an inverter setup with a long hose and cord so I could fill the containers in my car and not have to lug them around. I decided to try the boat ramp at the edge of pillar point marina. I thought it was a great plan, right up until 6 cops converged on my vehicle, threatened to arrest me and in general acted like criminals with badges. Even after I attempted explain what I was doing, I was told to stop immediately. The cops actual words were: "That's the stupidest excuse I've ever heard, I don't even believe you have a fish tank. Leave immediately or we will impound your car and arrest you!" I still can't imagine what possible "excuse" I needed for doing something that isn't illegal or offensive on public property. The worst part was even though I'd waited for a flood tide, the little water I did get was contaminated and useless. Fun day.

Still, it used to be good exercise carrying 10 gallons of water at a time from the end of the Pacifica pier. Not to mention hauling it up in a bucket by hand.

In any case, if anyone has any knowledge of a facility closer than Santa Cruz that offers saltwater from outside the bay I'd love to hear about it. I'm planning to be ready to put water in my new tank Saturday, though I may push that back to attend BayMac. Would be nice to not have to cycle $60 worth of HMB water.

-Gusty
 
There are wide opinions of the HMB water. Some like it, some who have watched it being collected say they would never use it.

I would be very careful about the water collected for hobby use, especially regarding where it was collected, and I wouldn't take anyones word for it because there has been way too much coastal development to rely on the traditional collecting spots.


Oh - for various reasons, Steinhart isn't selling water, and has no plans to.
 
I've seen great tanks run on NSW and great tanks run on salt mix. I also believe that switching from one to the other (even just a partial water change %) could have a negative effect. Sometimes it isn't really a matter of what's 'best' but more what the animals are used to.
 
In order to collect water from the harbor in HMB you need a permit from RWCB, it's quite a process and is the law, it's not as bad as getting a discharge permit though. :D

FWIW there are good salt mixes out there.
 
A: what is HMB water
B: I agree with Jim (bookfish)
but I freely introduce new fish and corals without any problems. Yes I use and sell NSW. I do no testing and have had no problems. I've been using my method for over 5 years. That being said salt mixes will probably give you higher magnesium and calcium and alkalinity. That's my assumption. Ido suppliment my water with K#nt supperbuffer dKH and Sealab #28 blocks. I also do 25% water changes every 10days.
 
Seapure it is!
Though I have never seen, I am told that the water is collected through a pipe 1/4mi off halfmoon bay pier and UV filter, carbon filter, micron pleat filter, sand filtered and I think UV.
 
Kensington Reefer said:
A: what is HMB water
B: I agree with Jim (bookfish)
but I freely introduce new fish and corals without any problems. Yes I use and sell NSW. I do no testing and have had no problems. I've been using my method for over 5 years. That being said salt mixes will probably give you higher magnesium and calcium and alkalinity. That's my assumption. Ido suppliment my water with K#nt supperbuffer dKH and Sealab #28 blocks. I also do 25% water changes every 10days.
Click to expand...

I freely introduce new fish and corals without any problems, but I don't use NSW. Dun dun dun.....! :D
 
Kensington Reefer said:
Seapure it is!
Though I have never seen, I am told that the water is collected through a pipe 1/4mi off halfmoon bay pier and UV filter, carbon filter, micron pleat filter, sand filtered and I think UV.
Click to expand...

C-Pure is what the logo says on the water containers :)
 
GreshamH said:
Kensington Reefer said:
Seapure it is!
Though I have never seen, I am told that the water is collected through a pipe 1/4mi off halfmoon bay pier and UV filter, carbon filter, micron pleat filter, sand filtered and I think UV.
Click to expand...

C-Pure is what the logo says on the water containers :)
Click to expand...


The side of the truck says Sea-Pure :D

800px-AYool_GLODAP_ALK.png
 
Well if you want to get technical, he was first Catalina NORCAL :p
 
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