Transporting Natural Sea Water

Matt Rogers · 12-30-2002, 06:18 PM

Ok. This natural sea water thing is throwing me a few curve balls. I originally thought,'hey I live on the pacific coast - I got it made!'

Well...

1) Collecting at high tide.

- I haven't quite figured this one out. I don't have a boat. Something tells me I might get desperate and go swimming out with the sharks and a big container.

Maybe there is a long pier or two I can go out on, but then how do I suck the water up? This is going to require a strong pool pump and this leads me to ...

2) Transporting the water home.

- If I figure number 1 out, number 2 is still going to be tricky.
I think I have a solution, but this requires two things I don't have.

2a) A big storage container that will hold a lot of sea water. I found one. BUt they are expenive and cumbersome, see below.

2b) A truck. But my neighbor has one. Hmm....

Anyway, this is what I have found:

Quote:

210 Gallon Poly Pickup Truck Tank

Color: White
Gallons: 210
Length: 60"
Height: 30"
Lbs: 70

The bottom width of the 210-gallon tank can be either 39" or 48" to fit either smaller pickups or full-sized models. Great for hauling drinking water to remote locations, the low profile design keeps the center of gravity low and provides for better rear vision. American Tank Company’s dome-top poly pickup truck tanks are notched to fit over wheel wells and when empty can be easily lifted in and out of the truck. Each tank comes with an 8” slosh-proof lid and a 2” bottom outlet fitting for easy plumbing hook-up.

One piece and molded from tough linear polyethylene for maximum strength with no joints or seams to leak or cause problems, they will not rust, chip, peel or corrode. Tanks are rated for liquids weighing up to 12.5 lbs. per gallon. American Tank Company’supports the manufacturer’s 3-Year warranty. Customer must verify the load carrying capacity of their vehicle before placing any tank into service.

http://www.watertanks.com/category/152/

Oh boy. Love to do it. But this is going to be quite an operation. [smiley=sneaky.gif]

What do you think?

Gresham · 12-30-2002, 11:14 PM

Matt-

Why do you need to transport 210g? Thats a ton of water for your 75g. I use 15g blue containers and 5g clear containers to transport my water around. As far as collecting, I'll look into a good area for you, I know quit a few people around you.

BTW, the guy who supplies us with water has a city-van with I think 1000g container w/ a pump assisted 2" output. He has his own dock in Half Moon Bay. I filters it down to 1 micron.

Matt Rogers · 01-01-2003, 01:14 AM

Gresham any help is appreciated.

I have been looking at this 210 gallon beast because then I wouldn't have to go as often. My two tanks together make about half that, so I could go a few water changes with that much.

I am open to figuring out just the right combo of hassle and neccesity.

I really don't know what that is yet. But I can tell you I don't want some 'milkman' to show up at my door. That takes the fun out of it.

It's the thrill of the hunt for this goofball. [smiley=cowboy.gif]

karlas · 01-01-2003, 02:20 AM

wow thats sounds like a big chore your taken on but if it works what wont we do for our tanks lol. me i dont have access to fresh sea water so i gotta go with the IO or reef crystals. i use 2 and a half gall water jugs to carry my water in and i go to my moms to get it, doesnt cost me anything and surprising enough i can use it for the tank. its well water but it has no phosphates, nitrates, or copper in it and its all ive used so far

Apophis924 · 01-01-2003, 03:27 AM

Hey Matt, how about going to a fishing pier and dropping a bucket off the end with a good strong rope, use a 5 or ten gallon bucket. Pulling all that H2O up will be an excellent arm work out and One can never get too much exercise. Or you could get a SERIOUS salt water pole and use some good line or rope and "fish" for your ocean water off the Pier. As far as doing the 210 gallon thing too much water to move. Your trips would not be enjoyable. But a weekly "water fishing trip" can turn into a day at the beach, time for relaxing and introspection, and you never know You might brain storm on an idea to make all this even easier. Plus transporting less water is better because if you spill it (and all us Reefers have spilled a LOT of water at one time or another) The damage wont be so devastating.

Gresham · 01-01-2003, 11:33 AM

The problem with using a pier, in our area, is most are in a harbor (little water movement). Our bay is highly polluted with many heavy metals and even some nuclear waste if the current is just right. We need to pull water from a part of the bay that is fully moving (incoming tide the best). I know of a few parks that are perfect, I just need to get you(Matt) the names and directions.

Matt Rogers · 01-01-2003, 03:11 PM

Gresham that sounds cool. We gotta hook up and search out the good stuff. You are spooking me with that nuclear stuff! I swim in that water now and then! Hahah. I guess I am going to glow soon.

Apophis924 you crack me up. Excercise? Dude going upstairs to the fridge is the most excercise I get lately!

I nearly died unloading the cement for my live rock! [smiley=stars.gif] lol!

heheh.