Real Freshwater

[Lochrin]

G'day and Hi from Australia.
I am just getting back into fish tanks after having one as a kid.
I live in the rural area of New South Wales, and picked up a 125litre 20 year old tank that was refurbished. It has been sitting outside in the elements. Checked all the seals and it holds water. Cleaned a lot of moss and dirt off it and it looks fine.
So.. my question.. As I said I live in a rural area, and our farm has a fresh water, spring fed, slow flowing creek, which only runs through 2 properties before getting to our place. Neither farm uses chemicals and the creek has wildlife, yabbies, occasional crayfish, small fish and a lot of water plants.

I am wondering if using this water would be it a reliable way to kick start my tank? I am not looking at an ornate setup really. Just something for my office.
To me, the fact that its fresh, drinkable water, that has things living it it, means that it would be viable. I guess I am looking for an opinion coming from the cycling side of setting up the tank. Is the water going to make it faster, slower or any difference at all ?

We live on rainwater, and are waiting to replace a dodgy galvanized tank, which I am told by our local aquarium to avoid as the galvanization in older tanks will upset most fish, and it wont evaporate out.

Ideas, thoughts, opinions?

(will conitnue reading all these posts and eagerly await a reply or 2 )

 

[phoenixgsd]

i remember as a child my dad collected rainwater for his tanks, and very succesfully too, however, these days there is so much pollution in the air, i wouldnt be convinced its 100% safe

 

[fluttermoth]

As you're in a rural area, I'd say you'd be fine to use rainwater; I do sometimes, and my place is nowhere near as rural as yours!

You'll probably find your cycle does go faster, as the water won't have been bleached to within an inch of it's life, unlike most tapwater these days, so there may very well be some of the nitrifying bacteria present.

The only real worry, if you use the creek water, is introducing parasites or diseases that your fish might not have resistance to. Rainwater would be safer, but your local aquarium is right; not from a galvanised container, you want something inert; food grade plastic would be best.

And I'd just give a warning to you never to let water from your tank get into the creek, as there's a possibility you could introduce parasites/diseases the other way too; from your aquarium fish to the wild ones; wouldn't be good at all!

 

[Lochrin]

Thnx for the replies. The rainwater isn't an issue atm.. half the state is flooded (http/news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/man-dies-as-further-flooding-hits-nsw-20120304-1uak6.html)

Nothing from our house goes into the creek area. Like the clean environment. Rainwater is great.. no air polluting industries for at least 300 kilometers.

Was looking more into collecting the creek water, thinking that the natural flow would already contain bacteria within the natural creek cycle, and would skip the ammonia part of the cycle.

I have (well it's my sons tank.. ) a 26 litre tank with guppies in it that's cycled and been running well for many months now.. thinking of pinching the artificial log from it to drop in to push the cycle along also.

This sound like it would avoid the ammonia cycle.. or is that required to set the tank up properly when fish go in it?

Found out the tank was bought new in 1990 so it's doing well to still hold water.

 

[fluttermoth]

Well, you can instantly cycle a tank using media (that's anything that's inside the filter) from an established tank. You can take up to a third of the media from the old tank's filter to add to the new filter.

You do have to stock the new tank very slowly and carefully to avoid ammonia spikes. So, if your son's tank has 4 guppies in it, and you take a third of the media, you could add one guppy to the new tank (you always err on the side of caution setting up new tanks this way).

The best (and safest, from the fish's point of view) is to seed the new filter with the old media and then do a full fishless cycle, using household ammonia.

The artificial log won't do much to help; the beneficial bacteria live almost exclusively in the filter, not on the substrate or decor.

There will almost certainly be some of the good bacteria in the creek water, but I'd be worried about diseases/parasites. The native animals will have an immunity to the pathogens present in their 'own' water, but your aquarium fish won't.

 

[Lochrin]

Well, you can instantly cycle a tank using media (that's anything that's inside the filter) from an established tank. You can take up to a third of the media from the old tank's filter to add to the new filter.

There will almost certainly be some of the good bacteria in the creek water, but I'd be worried about diseases/parasites. The native animals will have an immunity to the pathogens present in their 'own' water, but your aquarium fish won't.

Its one of those all in 1 for $50 deals, with an under gravel filter. Planning my tank to have a media type filter.
Taking some gravel from his, suspended in a new stocking for them to leach into the water and into a media filter would work? (been browsing threads.. think I read that somewhere.. )

True on the pathogens, I guess. The water is crystal clear.. but its the things we don't see. How about boiling it before use? Kills everything I know. (Planning ahead re the galv tanks and when the rain stops..) Would the boiled creek water be fine to added once tank has cycled?

Thanx for the comments by the way.. I ask a lot and like to learn.

 

[fluttermoth]

You could certainly pinch a bit of gravel; I'd put it straight into the filter, rather than hang it in the tank though; the bacteria cling quite strongly onto surfaces; they'll really only spread if the two types of media are touching.

Yes, boiling the creek water would be fine, though you should aerate it a bit before use, as boiling drives out oxygen; simply pouring it into a bucket from a reasonable height a couple of times will do that though

 

[Lochrin]

Awesome, and I will remember the gravel idea.
Tank has only just been cleaned, so jumping way ahead. It has the old metal/stainless steel trim, so trying to decide whether to leave it and be retro, or find some neater black plastic trim. Glass has a few healthy surface scratches too.
Being a freebie I am determined to give it a second life.. even if its to get it looking good enough for the wife to yes to a new 6 foot or so tank.

 

[Lochrin]

Next question.. timber in the actual water (so sitting on the bottom of the creek) just needs a good soak for a few days in old tank water and it's OK to use in a tank? Found a nice piece of partially petrified wood..

 

[fluttermoth]

I'd pour some boiling water over it and let it soak for for a few day (changing the water every day) before use, just to kill off any 'nasties' that might be lurking in it.

 

[Lochrin]

Ok. Will do !

 

[OldMan47]

the zinc that is used for galvanized systems is indeed not a good idea for fish. If you have a fresh water source that is not being subjected to that zinc, it would be a better choice for your tank. It is unlikely that your water source will have much bacteria in it but it is still a better water source for an aquarium. Just use that runoff water the way most of us would use tap water and things should work out fine for you.

 

[raptorrex]

though not ideal. a good quality water conditioner (Sechems Prime) will take care of the zinc (or should)

 

[Lochrin]

Bought some gravel and an internal filter from the LFS.
I want use gravel from the under gravel filter (as fluttermouth suggested above) to seed the filter for this tank.
What is the best way of actually doing that.. there is no room in the filter body to put gravel next to the sponge.. would half burying the sponge in the gravel in sons tank fora few days work to transfer it ok ?

 

[fluttermoth]

It takes a good couple of weeks for the bacteria to spread. I'd cut a bit off the sponge, and put the gravel directly in there. If you can get some ammonia in there you could cycle very quickly.

P.S; it's fluttermoth, btw, not mouth