The issue is good animal husbandry - providing a place where your ceph can be safe and healthy and live out its life. I think you would like to do this, but you have time and money constraints.
No, the chemicals you stir into tap water won't make it safe for cephs, or many other marine animals. Get an analysis of your water supply (usually provided free annually, at least here). Artificial sea salt attempts to reproduce sea water when mixed. If you don't start with neutral water, you're changing this composition. My water here in Texas contains too much copper already, not to mention other undesirables, but it's still quite safe to drink.
Brock, I've read most every Ceph Care post since it began, and I can't agree with your statement :
"Plus a lot of members here just want an octopus for the "Wow factor" and don't give a hoot what they need to survive and be healthy."
Most people on this forum care for individual cephs and want to do right by them. Only a few are like those you describe.
No, the chemicals you stir into tap water won't make it safe for cephs, or many other marine animals. Get an analysis of your water supply (usually provided free annually, at least here). Artificial sea salt attempts to reproduce sea water when mixed. If you don't start with neutral water, you're changing this composition. My water here in Texas contains too much copper already, not to mention other undesirables, but it's still quite safe to drink.
Brock, I've read most every Ceph Care post since it began, and I can't agree with your statement :
"Plus a lot of members here just want an octopus for the "Wow factor" and don't give a hoot what they need to survive and be healthy."
Most people on this forum care for individual cephs and want to do right by them. Only a few are like those you describe.