Possible lead in water

[Sunnyspots]

Anyone know if some diluted lead would be harmful (I'm pretty sure it will be) and, if so, what I can do now there is some in the tank (no fish). I'm hoping I don't need to empty and start all over again!

 

[Sunnyspots]

Looking into it I think the effects on fish are cumulative. My test seems to be inconclusive now too. I'm planning to trust the lead is very diluted, do a large partial water change of about 75% or even as low as I can get it, and carry on with the cycling. Does that sound sensible? With another change before stocking I trust any traces of lead will be negligible. Will it disrupt my cycling or will the bacteria still be as mature as before the water change?

 

[Colin_T]

What sort of lead?
Are you talking about something like a fishing sinker or lead plant weights, or something else?

If you mean things like fishing sinkers and plant weights, they are toxic when shiny silver, but after they turn a dull grey they are harmless. This is due to the lead oxide sealing up the lead underneath it. The lead oxide being the dull grey lead.

 

[Sunnyspots]

I didn't know not to use any hot water and used some in filling the tank to save the heater some work. Since then I tested the hot water tap and found the water has heavy metals in it - initially it looked like it would be lead. It will only be a tiny concentration - no lumps !
I'm hoping and expecting the cold water supply is fine but only had one kit to test.

 

[Essjay]

If you have a combi boiler, you can use hot tap water. But if you have a water cylinder in an airing cupboard which is topped up from a cold tank in the attic, don't use hot tap water. The header tank in the attic is the reason.

Does your water quality report list anything unusual; or does your house have lead piping?

 

[Sunnyspots]

Oh damn! I have a tank in a 1950s/60s house. I only bought it in October and between this, the electrics and the drains it is turning into a death trap I don't think I have a water quality report. If I do it'll be clear or it would have been flagged to me I'm sure. Lead piping might be an issue? If it affects the kitchen supply then the tank, dogs, rats, cat and I are all full of lead

 

[Essjay]

If your water is supplied by a water company (rather than from a well or spring) the company should have your water quality report on its website.

If your water is supplied by South West Water, enter your postcode here

Water quality postcode search

Our region is divided into a number of supply zones. A Water Supply zone is defined in order to enable the mandatory sampling programme to be undertaken at the correct frequency per populous. Each zone is a geographical area containing no more than 100,000 permanent residents. The results will...

www.southwestwater.co.uk

and that should give you a pdf to download. One of the parameters in the table will be "hardness total as Ca" which is your GH in mg/l calcium. It needs to be converted to ppm and dH, the two units used in fish keeping.

The site also has a section on lead pipework

South West Water

Providing reliable, efficient and high quality drinking water and waste water services throughout Cornwall and Devon, plus servicing small areas of Dorset and Somerset.

www.southwestwater.co.uk

 

[Sunnyspots]

If your water is supplied by a water company (rather than from a well or spring) the company should have your water quality report on its website.

If your water is supplied by South West Water, enter your postcode here

Water quality postcode search

Our region is divided into a number of supply zones. A Water Supply zone is defined in order to enable the mandatory sampling programme to be undertaken at the correct frequency per populous. Each zone is a geographical area containing no more than 100,000 permanent residents. The results will...

www.southwestwater.co.uk

and that should give you a pdf to download. One of the parameters in the table will be "hardness total as Ca" which is your GH in mg/l calcium. It needs to be converted to ppm and dH, the two units used in fish keeping.

The site also has a section on lead pipework

South West Water

Providing reliable, efficient and high quality drinking water and waste water services throughout Cornwall and Devon, plus servicing small areas of Dorset and Somerset.

www.southwestwater.co.uk

That is really useful, thank you! I've been using testing strips so not very accurate. This is brilliant.

 

[Colin_T]

If you have concerns about the safety of the tap water for you and your animals, let the tap run flat out for a couple of minutes before collecting it for the fish or filling a water filter. This will flush out anything that has leached into the water while it has been sitting in the pipes. Just water the garden and then fill up the dog's water bowl and fish tank buckets after you have done the garden or had a long shower.

 

[Sunnyspots]

Good plan. Thank you

 

[Sunnyspots]

If your water is supplied by a water company (rather than from a well or spring) the company should have your water quality report on its website.

If your water is supplied by South West Water, enter your postcode here

Water quality postcode search

Our region is divided into a number of supply zones. A Water Supply zone is defined in order to enable the mandatory sampling programme to be undertaken at the correct frequency per populous. Each zone is a geographical area containing no more than 100,000 permanent residents. The results will...

www.southwestwater.co.uk

and that should give you a pdf to download. One of the parameters in the table will be "hardness total as Ca" which is your GH in mg/l calcium. It needs to be converted to ppm and dH, the two units used in fish keeping.

The site also has a section on lead pipework

South West Water

Providing reliable, efficient and high quality drinking water and waste water services throughout Cornwall and Devon, plus servicing small areas of Dorset and Somerset.

www.southwestwater.co.uk

Hi again Essjay. Having looked at the water report I found my GH is well below 4. What would you recommend I use to raise it to more useful levels as I'm not planning to limit my fish choices so very much?

 

[Essjay]

Do you mean 4 degrees Clarke, French or German? It's German you need, this is the same as dH. Whichever it is, you have soft water. This allows a huge range of fish. The only fish to avoid are hard water fish such as livebearers and most rainbowfish. All fish from south America and most from Asia are suitable in your water, the only limit is the size of your tank, and compatibility of fish.
Do you have any thoughts about what you want? You mentioned gouramis in another thread and they are fine in soft water.


[I completely missed the fact that when the postcode is entered, besides the link to the water quality report, they also list the hardness in 4 different units ]

 

[Sunnyspots]

I've only been looking at fish liking softish water fortunately. Soap takes a good while to rinse so I'd guessed it already, just not how soft! The basic nature of my water is neutral to slightly alkaline but I shall be adding CO2 for plants so that should acidify it a bit. Because of my choice in plants I don't plan to go too easy on the lighting, but there will be some darker space due to the planting anyway. I have a split level slate cave coming, courtesy of etsy, and have bog and spider wood. Overall there won't be a huge amount of space for fish; I'm using a working figure of 60l absolute max from a box description of an '80l' tank.
I've got danios, tetras, gourami and/or peacock goby in mind with a ram or porthole catfish as other possibilities. It will depend what I can get and then I will mix and match accordingly. At least by cycling first I won't be especially limited by hardiness (only as much as any novice will need, anyway!). I was assuming my water might finally be slightly acidic but will see once everything has matured and let that guide me too.

 

[Essjay]

With your hardness you probably also have low KH so the pH will quit likely drift downwards till it stabilises at some pH lower than your tap water.

Gouramis and most tetras don't like bright light so I would get some floating plants (you may already have planned these). You can confine them to one end of your tank with airline tubing secured to the sides of the tank. This will give somewhere for the fish to find shade while allowing a non-shaded part for high-light plants.

 

[Sunnyspots]

Thanks for the tubing idea. I already have a floating plant (something natans?) but it does like to wander!