I have a saltwater well I drilled about a month ago. I know a several people in the area that use this technique however, they don't know much about how it works, they always say "it goes up into that tank and then down to the system." But no details, most people I talk to weren't around it was set up. I know a bit about the anaerobic bacteria underground and how it digests nutrients and expels sulfur somthin'-or-another and that’s why it smells putrid when it comes out of the hole. What I need to know is what is the most effective way to prepare this water for use in my system?
I know aerating is the first step, but then what and how? Anyone?
Thanks

So:
- you have a well on your property
- you live in the Florida Keys
- the locals call the type of well a "saltwater well"
- the water stinks when it comes out of the well
- you want to use it in your reef aquarium

Probably the best thing you could do is run the water through an RO system and then a DI resin. This will strip the water down to an acceptable purity. And then you can mix it with a high quality salt mix to be ready for your tank.

OK wow so ya that would make for wonderful water. But that is not what they do. We are talking about places like MOTE marine laboratories, the Key West Public Aquarium etc... Local aquaculturists use nothing more than a large volume tank to first aereate the water and off-gas the sulfur somethin-or-another. Then a sand filter. And that seems to be it. Others, not even that just a large volume mixing tank. So back to my original question...
Does anyone know anything about saltwater wells? Or should I say have experience with them specifically?

For anyone who is following this thread...
I talked for almost an hour to a rep from aquatic eco. He had so much valuable info, I don't know where to start. My well in particular is 15' deep past the low tide level. We use a small sump pump we purchased at Home Depot as a temporary setup until we can afford something nice. The water as of now contains hydrogen sulfide, ammonia (.5ppm) and a pH of 7.4. The hydrogen sulfide smells pretty bad so when it has been de-gassed it is easily detectable by nose. So we pump the water out of the hole and drop it into a de gassing tank where it falls abruptly and mixes with air stones. Then the water overflows out into our small pond. This pond isn't nearly big enough but must make do for now. The rep explained how he thought we needed a fluidized bed filter circulating the pond water to remove any ammonia and further off gas the water. I am planning on building at least three pf these out of 6" or 8" pvc pipe. If any one has any input there it would be greatly appreciated. So as my main system is depleted of water through everyday cleaning, the pong water will slowly be transferred over to the system via small pump on a float switch.
If anyone has experience with saltwater well setups, please pleaseplease send me some tips or tricks

What I would recommend is that in addition to the aerating you also add macro algaes to the pond. that will rapidily take care of most the the contaminents and espically the ammonia types.

Besides if the macros are thriving you have a good indication the water is acceptable for fish.


my .02

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fw leiden since 1979, fo salt since 1979, mixed reef 55g 2002-2009. Strong emphasis on the tank taking care of itself. Balanced with plant life, no water changes, tap water, no filters in FW. Only dosing calcium, alk, mag in marine reef tanks. http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/my-...ods-26410.html
recent tanks (till 2009) 7 years- 10g FW leiden 7 yrs, 55g mixed reef 7, 2 yrs, 20g FW leiden, 10 g fw leiden , 29g mixed reef, current tank 55g leiden