ontains high levels of phosphates and nitrates that can be harmful to aquarium inhabitants. Also, copper may leach from pipes, and it is deadly to marine invertebrates (Goldstein 8). This leaves very few options for water to the hobbyist. One of the last, and probably the best option for obtaining a pure water source is by using reverse osmosis water. Reverse osmosis is a process of filtering out pollutants from water to create a purer form. Mr. Dakin who has written several books on maintaining a reef aquarium describes osmosis in his book as “a natural process by which selective molecules in an aqueous solution can be pass through a semi-permeable membrane, while the movement of other molecules due to size, shape or other reasons is restricted” (20). Once water has been allowed to flow through this membrane, purer water can be collected from the output of the filter. Once enough of this water is collected, the hobbyist can fill the aquarium and begin to plan on his or her next step, the salt content. “Although ocean water tastes like water with table salt (sodium chloride) dissolved in it, it is a lot more complex than that” (Friese 33). Pure sea water contains a vast amount of dissolved chemicals. It contains everything from sodium chloride to trace amounts of silver and gold. Although the inhabitants of a marine reef aquarium are not going to be effected if the water does not contain gold, they will not live long if all that is added is table salt (Friese 33). Marine salt mixes contain a similar collection of elements that are found in natural seawater. There are many different brands of aquarium salt available to the hobbyist, and each one has its own following of people that will swear by its use. Any brand available will work since it is very unlikely the inhabitants will be able to tell the difference. However, what is more important than the brand of sea salt is the amount that...
