Dehumidifier

[Kelley24]

I know this is really odd question, but my brother suggested to me yesterday to use the water out of the dehumidifier. I know it is distilled water once it is collected in the machine, but is it actually safe to use in a tank when doing a water change? I have NEVER used it in a water change and always done water changes by the book, but it was just that my bro suggested it and says it would save on declorinator. I have never really thought about it, but am now curious. lol

Kelley


(ps, bro dont have a tank before anyone suggests that he shouldnt have one if it is not safe to use dehumidifier water?

 

[freddyk]

Dehumidified air is pure because it's evaporated water and the healthy nutrients and minerals in the water that our fish use are not in it anymore. In addition, the hardware of de-humidifiers never had livestock in mind, and I wouldn't trust that it's free of harmful metals by the time it's through the machine. Just not a good idea.

 

[Cian McLiam]

Agreed, not a good plan!

 

[yvez9]

add to that that the metal tubing in your dehumidifier is probably copper, which is toxic to fish to some extent

also, it is not really distilled water as it comes in contact with your dehumidifier. it will contain lots of dirt as well, since it basically vacuums air

 

[Kelley24]

ok.
I hate my bro sometimes cos now he has said to use the Water Filter that i use to drink from. I'm gonna give up listening to his stupid ideas and do water changes the way i have always done it.
But now he wants to know about the water filter idea!
Is he just daft?

 

[freddyk]

Sounds like he means well, but it's usually best just to go with tap water treated with conditioner.

 

[yvez9]

do you mean a brita filter?
don't use that either, coz that's basically RO water

There is not enough minerals in there for fish.

Just use tap water

 

[Griz]

I've looked into this myself and decided it was just not worth the risk. Water from a dehumidifier should test at 7.0 pH, KH 0, GH 0. At least mine does. While it may seem a good idea to mix this with dechlorinated tap water in order to lower pH and hardness, IMO the risks are just too great. I wanted to use this method for my Apistogramma which prefer soft water and a low pH. As others have mentioned, metals can be a potential long term problem. The more immediate risk is that dehumidifiers tend to accumulate a lot of dust and other impurities on the coils which will end up in the water.

 

[freddyk]

don't use that either, coz that's basically RO water

Just for future reference, Brita water is nothing but water run through carbon and some dissolved elements are absorbed (not any different then adding carbon to the fish filter really), where RO is Reverse Osmosis and removes almost everything from the water.

 

[yvez9]

don't use that either, coz that's basically RO water

Just for future reference, Brita water is nothing but water run through carbon and some dissolved elements are absorbed (not any different then adding carbon to the fish filter really), where RO is Reverse Osmosis and removes almost everything from the water.

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Brita is more than just carbon, there is a resin in the filter as well that removes lots of impurities from water, although it may not be as effective as an RO unit, it's almost as good on a muhc smaller scale. RO units will purify hundreds of gallons of water before the filters need to be changed wheres a brita filter will need replacement after less than 100 gallons.

So yes, Brita is different than your carbon pouch you put in your filter...

 

[Wiggler 1]

just a question on the Brita....what in the Brita takes out the chlorine, if it is the carbon then why does your bacteria die if you add tap water through your carbon filter in tank.
his best resort is to buy conditioner which is cheap and not take a chance on ruining his tank

 

[yvez9]

yes, carbon absorbs chlorine, but chlorine can get to your bacteria first. The carbon filter in a fish tank will take out chlorine as well if there is any but chlorine might have killed off some of your bacteria

 

[Kelley24]

I'm so glad my bro asked now cos i never knew any of that stuff about either the Brita Water filter of the dehumidifier, so it is interesting to know. Thanx everone