So, I use sea salt on my fries. I looked at the container today and it says it comes from evaporated sea water.
If that's true, could you use regular store "sea salt" to make saltwater instead of using the expensive instant ocean stuff?
(Just a theory question)
The expensive Instant Ocean stuff has more to it than just salts. It contains other trace elemtns of minerals and all that fun stuff that's necessary for the health and well being of the things inside the tank... (From my limited understanding.)
I've used the sea salt in my fresh tanks as a tonic, but I wouldn't risk it on the saltie.
Julie
Actually salt is typically made from evaporated sea water (or salty inland water like Great Salt Lake). Usually it only contains sodium and chlorine ions, though, which doesn't reflect ocean chemistry very well. They add all sorts of trace elements to Instant Ocean and similar products, things that may or may not be present in the 'rock salt' that your fish condiments came from. Like Mettle said, it's "necessary for the health and well being of the things inside the tank."
I guess my thinking is that if they LITERALLY make it from evaporated sea water, then the leftover salt would also contain the trace elements that exist in real seawater...
But wouldn't you like to know where your sea salt came from, and what sort of trace elements are in it? If it came from Great Salt Lake (where there are no marine fish), or the salt marshes of France, as opposed to the man-made ocean pools where they 'farm' salt?
Excellent point...
Again, I wasn't actually thinking of physically using it, just was wondering if the theory was rediculous. I guess "sea" salt could be mined from anywhere.
There is a interesting article about salt and sea-salt at this link if your interestd. But I dont think it can shed any more light on your quandry.
http://badmanstropicalfish.com/articles/article22.html
That is definitely an interesting article, but a few of the things he says are a little bit off. He talks about how there is no scientific basis for using salt in the aquarium, but I wouldn't believe everything he tells you. He has some valid points, but his 'science' isn't so great either :D He completely contradicts himself in places...