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Hi folks,

I wanted to offer a tip about heating water before adding it to a tank. Since I like to keep my carbon footprint as small as I can, and my hot water comes off the furnace so is low carbon, I fill jars with hot water from the tank and put them in the water buckets that have stood out for 24 hours at room temp. May have to add more than once, but soon a swooshed up bucket will feel the same as your atank water, and away you go.

I've never had the tank thermometer act up with this method, so the feel is a good indicator, it seems.

Hmmm
I never thought of doing it that way, the jars would keep any mineral buildup out of the water destined for the tank .


^_^

I just turn my hot tap on full and adjust cold to suit.

Hi Ira,

I've heard that water out of the heater has toxins, and also much tap has chlorine that would often also be a potential issue. True for you set-up?

Be well,
Annie

Hi,
Speaking of hot water heaters that are a couple of decades
old, your comment about toxins could hold some truth.
Today's hot water heaters use entirely different materials
in their construction and don't contain any toxins.

Water from a city treatment plant does contain Chlorine,
and/or, Chloramine to kill bacteria. It may also contain
other compounds such as Soda Ash to control the pH when
used in lead pipes. Copper pipes can add Copper to the
water when it sits, stagnant, in them for a long time.
However, in a normal household where one flushes a toilet
at various times during the day, does laundry, takes
showers or baths, washes hands, dishes, etc, the water
is not in the pipes long enough to be "contaminated."

Unless you are "water challenged" in a drought, most can
simply do as Ira mentions, turn on the tap, adjust the mix
of H & C water to the desired temp, mix in some chlorine/
Chloramine remover, and dump into the tank with no problems
for the fish.

If you are obtaining the water in an area undergoing a
drought, many water treatment plants add additional chemicals
to kill off bacteria, and/or modify the pH and hardness.
And, as the water sources change they make these changes
frequently.

If you are drawing water from a cistern that collects
rain water, then you have the possibility of contamination
from insects, bacteria, detritus, picked up during the
run off, and if the rain falls through industrial smoke or
smog, then you could have acidic water with all sorts of
contaminants to cause problems.

In most water treatment plants, they use either different
sources of water or draw from different depths, depending
upon the season or source.

Wells are drilled into different aquifers in different
places and the wells are regularly switched off and others
started up to prevent over drawing in one location.
If different aquifers are involved, then the water flows
through different types of rocks and the pH, GH, and KH
can vary by the quarter as the wells are switched.
If the water comes from a body of water, then the intakes
are turned off and on, and switched, depending upon seasons
and maintenance. Again, the treatments, and additives will
vary by the season as the water is drawn from more shallow
intakes or much deeper intakes.

If you have a private well, it too can change in pH and
hardness along with rainy seasons and droughts. You should
have your well checked annually by a qualified person.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Hot water pipes are copper AFAIK and do tend to leech minerals back into the water faster than through cold water.

Have you ever tasted hot water from the tap ? !!!

Our hot water heater is not exactly in the best shape, it tends to put out some rather orange looking water, which we of course didn't notice when we were inspecting the place .


^_^

I have been taking all my tank water from my instaneous hot water heater for over two years now and not a problem at all.

Apparently the old copper storage hot water services were the big danger. Also some very old copper pipes in some homes are now causing problems.

I have no option about using this water if I did not I would have major tank problems. I also will only drink boiled water. All these problems are drought related and the height of the storage dams.

To add to this after those terribly bush fires much of our catchment areas were burnt out, and they have no idea what will happen when our rains eventually come what condition the run off will be that goes into our water storages.

Many of the creeks will have dead fish and animals in them.
Sorry to be so gory but it is a fact and no one knows exactly what will happen when it does adventually rain.

Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info
Look here for my
Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

Great discussion; thanks everybody. I'm learning a lot.

Keith, fires can be so devastating, and drought even more so in the long run. It's a hard time to be on the Planet right now. Best wishes.

I live in New England on the coast and our water's got lots of acid rain contributing to it, with the added mercury and other nastiness. The city system does a fair job cleaning it up, but my 1950s plumbing does leave something to be desired.

AnnieM

Annie

All the fires are out and the rains have started. Their biggest concern at the moment is land slides and what it will wash into the creeks, rivers, and dams. Two city dame are already closed because of possible pollutions.
To top it off some idiot started 10 fires in the same location (National Parks)in the last few days. Thank goodness little damage and they are all out now.

With your water supply you might have to fit a system into your water supply that removes all the nasties for your own safety as well.

Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info
Look here for my
Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

yup me too,keith put me onto taking my water from the hot service,and i never looked back,its way better.
when i first moved to where i am now(hell on earth)i kept getting white spot from the cold tap here,it had never happened at our old house,so once i stared usinh the hot service,finally no more white spot.
all the chemical disscussion aside,i think its just to hot for any nasties to live in...

I live Northern Canada our city water is pretty good and that is what i have been using for about 3 years or more now. I have noted that most water conditioner also neutralizes heavy metals as well as chlorine.

"All water has a perfect memory and is forever trying to get back to where it was."
Toni Morrison.
CHECK MY PROFILE FOR PICTURES.