Has Anyone considered using our Ocean"s Water???

[JasonB]

So I sent an email to the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute to ask them about the water chemistry being different in the various oceans of the world. This is the short response I received from them.

" Hi,
Your email was forwarded to the Information Office. Here is the answer to your question:

The basic chemistry of seawater is the same essentially everywhere- just the salinity, or total amount of the various elements differs. The ratio of the various elements is constant. It is called Forschhammers Principal.

Hope this helps.
-WHOI Info Office"

Although a short answer, there is some really good information there.

 

[jgraz]

So it essentially the same everywhere, but different everywhere.

Great answer.

 

[Daniel]

So it essentially the same everywhere, but different everywhere.

Great answer.

I am laughing right now. They must work in DC.

 

[JRWOHLER]

So it essentially the same everywhere, but different everywhere.

Great answer.

Like a scotch and soda...same everywhere but different everywhere....I hate watered down drinks

 

[Alcohol120]

i've tried collecting water and its not really fun wading in the surf with a 5 gallon bucket. its actually a little embarrassing if there are a lot of people on the beach. that was in the summer and it would be super cold now. the water i did collect had a bunch of sand/sediment in it and it also had these little black bugs. i just dumped it out. i know paul has been doing it forever but it would just scare me. same reason why i would put a locally collected specimen in it's own local tank.

 

[Paul B]

The basic chemistry of seawater is the same essentially everywhere-

I already posted that a few pages up. (remember the thing about the walls where I got in trouble for posting) How come you believe the guy who answers the phone in Woods Hole Oceanagraphic institute who most likely doesn't have a goldfish tank, but you don't believe me? My feelings are dented.

 

[joe b]

i believe in Paul B

 

[Daniel]

Poor poor Paul now go have a shot and be happy!! We believe in you.

 

[jose7878]

I believed you Paul. I also collect NSW for my tank as well.

 

[Paul B]

Good because if you live near the ocean and you don't collect water, you may be a Sissy.

Make believe there is a picture of me here in the sea collecting water with two Supermodels.:nervous

 

[jaa1456]

To the member who asked about collecting in or near sewaren and Perth amboy, I wouldn't personally collect from that area. That is a river with a lot of refineries and other chemical producing companies located along its banks. I wouldn't even collect from the Raritan Bay, seeing how that's where the river empties into along with the Raritan river as well. Not to mention the lead filled beaches of Laurence Harbor.

 

[JasonB]

I already posted that a few pages up. (remember the thing about the walls where I got in trouble for posting) How come you believe the guy who answers the phone in Woods Hole Oceanagraphic institute who most likely doesn't have a goldfish tank, but you don't believe me? My feelings are dented.

For the same reason someone that doesn't have a degree works at Burger King and the guy with the degree works in an office. If you have a degree in marine chemistry or some other related field and have the resources of an oceanographic institute, please let us know.

I am not sure if this guy has a goldfish tank or not, but I am sure he he probably knows more about the subject then you or I.

Anyway I had an initial thought, some disagreed with me and got a little testy. I figured rather then arguing with people that are only arguing with opinions and guesses, I would step away and search out some real answers. That being said, you are all welcome! Now we all know for sure.

 

[jgraz]

For the same reason someone that doesn't have a degree works at Burger King and the guy with the degree works in an office. If you have a degree in marine chemistry or some other related field and have the resources of an oceanographic institute, please let us know.

I am not sure if this guy has a goldfish tank or not, but I am sure he he probably knows more about the subject then you or I.

Anyway I had an initial thought, some disagreed with me and got a little testy. I figured rather then arguing with people that are only arguing with opinions and guesses, I would step away and search out some real answers. That being said, you are all welcome! Now we all know for sure.

But we still don't have an answer.

 

[Paul B]

If you have a degree in marine chemistry or some other related field and have the resources of an oceanographic institute, please let us know.

Dam, I actually don't have a degree and didn't even go to college, there was that Viet Nam war thing and all. But I do have almost 60 years of fish keeping experience and a 42 year old reef tank that is thriving with 20 year old spawning fish. I am not sure if the guy in the Oceanagraphic Institute has a tank or collects water for it but I assume his degree would make him know more about keeping a tank. I could be wrong though as I don't have a degree.
I certainly don't have the equipment of a research facility but I do own my own boat as well as my dive gear although i am not sure I need that to know if the oceans all have the same water. I also have two aquarium related patents and have written numerous articles on line and in aquarium magazines as well as had the opportunity to speak in front of two aquarium organizations, one in DC and one in California. But like most of us, I only know a little and there is unimaginable things I don't know.
I do have a cousin though, he is a Marine Biology Professor. For that title he had to dive once for 30 minutes in the South Pacific. He has never had a goldfish or even a picture of a goldfish and when he looks in my tank, he has no idea how to keep anything alive. But he is a professor of marine biology so now you know how much stock I put in marine biology degrees.
As for opinions and guesses, I don't guess. My "opinions" came from years of keeping and breeding salt water fish. From keeping the first fish that were imported to the US until today. That is how you learn about fish, not from having a degree. That I can guarantee you.
I am sure you have much more experience than I do so you must be very old. But then again, without that degree, I have no idea what I am talking about.

 

[Empire]

A 42 year old reef tank speaks for itself!

 

[jgraz]

^^^^^^^^there you go^^^^^^^^

 

[JRWOHLER]

So long as you don't do anything stupid like putting a bottle in the tank.:nervous I am sure stuff like that will kill the fish.

 

[Daniel]

So long as you don't do anything stupid like putting a bottle in the tank.:nervous I am sure stuff like that will kill the fish.

Fish do get thirsty right

 

[iTzJu]

wait...

soooo you guys are saying I can only collect water from the Bohai Sea and it must be from a dragon's head near The Great Wall of China? I then must make sure that organisms within the water collected be in the same geographical region as the imitated great barrier reef in my tank and i must graduate college to get into keeping fish? what are the prerequisites? sooo confused...

I'm half chinese.. does that mean the artificial water i make for my tank is half correct?


turtles?

 

[Paul B]

Yes, that is correct. My Grandparents were born in Sicily so I use olive oil in my tank instead of seawater.
Dance