Water Changes.

TheRedDarren · Sep 25, 2011

Hi,

I was just reading something from the water board about local water quality and in it they mention some basic fishkeeping advice. They say to match the new water with the tank temp by means other than using water from the hot tap, is this right? I remember something from years back that said you shouldn't as the water had been sat in a copper tank and it could damage inverts, well I don't have any so will it be ok? Plus I use tap safe which removes chlorine, chloramine and other heavy metals instantly.

DD2510 · Sep 25, 2011

ive used the hot water from the tap for the past 2 years with no issues.. Just let it run for a few mins before using it and use a decent dechlorinator and it should be fine.

DrRob · Sep 25, 2011

Probably not helpful, but not all hot water tanks are copper. Mine is stainless steel. I can't use my hot tap though as all of the hot water goes through the salt exchange water softener.

CezzaXV · Sep 25, 2011

I don't know what my boiler is made of, but let's assume it's copper. How do you match the temperature?

StandbySetting · Sep 25, 2011

Copper is insoluble in water, fine to use.

Essjay · Sep 25, 2011

It's not copper from the cylinder that's the problem, it's what's inside the header tank in the attic. Some have been known to have dead rats in them :sick:

I'd have a look in there before using hot tapwater if that's the type of system you have. If you have a combi boiler (ie no hot water cylinder) it's fine to use the hot water tap.

TheRedDarren · Sep 25, 2011

SS, I happen to know that tap water does contain copper, its a very low % but its definitely there. Its one of the reasons why water board raise the PH of the water because low PH water effects the pipework more than a high PH. Check this out mate. :good:

StandbySetting · Sep 25, 2011

The concentrations are so small that it is negligible though, I've used water from the hot tap for donkeys years and I keep shrimp and I've experienced no problems, another thing to bear in mind is that the copper that is dissolved in tap water is generally in a form that is non-toxic to invertebrates, most dechlorinators bind copper as well.

I'd always let it run for a minute though, otherwise you tend to get a bit of crap in there :sick: