Question About Using Water From The Hot Tap

[merlinblack]

Hi folks

I live over in the UK and the water from the cold tap is freezing. In the dim and distant past I was told you must not use water from the hot tap as it will contain high levels of copper but I've since heard of people who use the mixer tap when doing a water change to get the correct temp.

Please can someone tell me as I need to do a water change and it will make my life much easier and I currently don't have anywhere to warm the 50 gallons I need to do the water change.

Thanks

Stan

 

[minxfishy]

No problem using water from a hot tap, I do it at every water change (mixer tap) to get the temp the same as the tank water. So long as your using dechlorinator to eliminate any metals, such as copper, you shouldnt have any problems at all.

 

[elisew]

I use hot water to take the chill off the cold water if I'm doing a big water change so that I don't shock the fish with such a big difference in temperature and I know other members do too. As long as you're using a dechlorinator such as 'Prime' you should be fine

 

[merlinblack]

I use hot water to take the chill off the cold water if I'm doing a big water change so that I don't shock the fish with such a big difference in temperature and I know other members do too. As long as you're using a dechlorinator such as 'Prime' you should be fine

Excellent. I have a bottle of prime so I'm sorted.

I think back in the days when we had big copper hot water storage cylinders it may have been true that we shouldn't use hot water but now were ok since we have prime and probably might not be such an issue with the combi boilers.

I'm using 50% RO to soften water as well so I should be sorted.

 

[elisew]

I use hot water to take the chill off the cold water if I'm doing a big water change so that I don't shock the fish with such a big difference in temperature and I know other members do too. As long as you're using a dechlorinator such as 'Prime' you should be fine

Excellent. I have a bottle of prime so I'm sorted.

I think back in the days when we had big copper hot water storage cylinders it may have been true that we shouldn't use hot water but now were ok since we have prime and probably might not be such an issue with the combi boilers.

I'm using 50% RO to soften water as well so I should be sorted.

I now use a mix of RO and tap water as well and my RO water is stored in an outside water butt, needless to say it's very cold at the mo and will likely get even colder yet.

I think the majority of peoples concerns with copper now is because they keep shrimp and copper can kill them but as long as a good dechlorinator is used there shouldn't be a problem.

Enjoy your water change

 

[Gytas]

is dechlorinator is another word for water conditioner?

 

[elisew]

is dechlorinator is another word for water conditioner?

Yes it is

 

[merlinblack]

I use hot water to take the chill off the cold water if I'm doing a big water change so that I don't shock the fish with such a big difference in temperature and I know other members do too. As long as you're using a dechlorinator such as 'Prime' you should be fine

Excellent. I have a bottle of prime so I'm sorted.

I think back in the days when we had big copper hot water storage cylinders it may have been true that we shouldn't use hot water but now were ok since we have prime and probably might not be such an issue with the combi boilers.

I'm using 50% RO to soften water as well so I should be sorted.

I now use a mix of RO and tap water as well and my RO water is stored in an outside water butt, needless to say it's very cold at the mo and will likely get even colder yet.

I think the majority of peoples concerns with copper now is because they keep shrimp and copper can kill them but as long as a good dechlorinator is used there shouldn't be a problem.

Enjoy your water change

do you produce it from your own RO unit? if so how do you produce it in the winter?

 

[Gilli]

I live in the UK and used to fill saucepans of boiling water rather than take it out of the hot water cylinder tank as I thought the same but since I upgraded to a 250 L tank I dont bother. I use it from the hot water tank and I have shrimp in my tank and all is well. A good tip is to buy pond dechlorinator (not easy to get in the shops but you can get it from Ebay cheap) it works out so much cheaper, does the same job and lasts for months and months!

 

[Harlequins]

It was the old 'copper cylinders' that posed a threat,the new boilers where you get instant hot water should be fine.Just use 'prime' if your not sure.

 

[elisew]

do you produce it from your own RO unit? if so how do you produce it in the winter?

Yes I do, only been up and running for a few weeks now but it seems to be going ok. Once the Butt is full I then fill up some water drums and bring them indoors to get the water to room temp for a couple of hours before using it. Not sure how cold it`s going to get or if the pipes will even freeze but I`ll cross that bridge when/if I come to it. I can always get some RO water from lfs if I get desperate

 

[anon02]

do you produce it from your own RO unit? if so how do you produce it in the winter?

Yes I do, only been up and running for a few weeks now but it seems to be going ok. Once the Butt is full I then fill up some water drums and bring them indoors to get the water to room temp for a couple of hours before using it. Not sure how cold it`s going to get or if the pipes will even freeze but I`ll cross that bridge when/if I come to it. I can always get some RO water from lfs if I get desperate

You could wrap everything in bubble wrap

 

[marksayer10@tiscali.co.uk]

i also use hot water in my water changes to try and get my temp of the water the same as my tank,

 

[elisew]

do you produce it from your own RO unit? if so how do you produce it in the winter?

Yes I do, only been up and running for a few weeks now but it seems to be going ok. Once the Butt is full I then fill up some water drums and bring them indoors to get the water to room temp for a couple of hours before using it. Not sure how cold it`s going to get or if the pipes will even freeze but I`ll cross that bridge when/if I come to it. I can always get some RO water from lfs if I get desperate

You could wrap everything in bubble wrap

Hmm, hubby did suggest that too

 

[fluttermoth]

I use hot water from the tap as well. In 'the old days' before we had dechlorinators and got rid of the chlorine by letting the water stand for 24 hours I wouldn't have done; I used to boil the kettle, but modern dechlorinators neutralise heavy metals like copper anyway, so there should be nothing to worry about.