chipmunkofdoom2
Always Making Something
View BadgesExcellence Award
Article Contributor
Reef Squad Emeritus
Might be interesting to hear from folks working for larger public aquariums.
Several months ago, we were up in Baltimore at the National Aquarium doing one of their behind the scenes tours (well worth the extra money IMO if you get the chance). Met another reefer dragging his spouse along for the tour. Had a great time chatting with him, but both of us were shocked to learn they used plain 'ole Baltimore municiple water and were blending their own salt. No commercial mixes. No natural seawater. They are literally buying the raw materials and rolling their own.
M
I work in the Living Seashore exhibit at the National Aquarium. We do indeed use the municipal water and our own DIY salt mix. We don't use it straight though, we filter it through a reverse osmosis process.
Interesting side note, according to one of the supervisors, we're looking at switching to a major manufacturer's mix. The roll-your-own has become less cost effective over time, and it may be cheaper to establish a contract with one of the major manufacturers.