Possible lead in water

[Byron]

A caution on adding CO2...this is not really beneficial except in high-tech planted systems where the plants are the main focus and fish are few if not altogether absent. Natural CO2 occurs from the decomposition of organics in the substrate primarily, and there is quite a lot of it. Depends upon the plant design you want. There is evidence now that diffused CO2 does affect fish, and the so-called liquid carbon supplements can be deadly to plants, fish and bacteria.

This also means you can lessen the light intensity, which further benefits the fish; most of our fish are forest fish that live in fairly dim waters, and overhead lighting does impact their lives more than we might expect.

 

[Sunnyspots]

Oh. I was planning to avoid fish who prefer low lighting and I am indeed intending to have quite a few plants once I've finished. That was why I was planning to use a CO2 diffuser, it would just be an added benefit that it should contribute some acidification of the water. I shall appraise the final tank visually and chemically before making any clear decisions regarding which fish it would be appropriate to buy.

 

[Byron]

Oh. I was planning to avoid fish who prefer low lighting and I am indeed intending to have quite a few plants once I've finished. That was why I was planning to use a CO2 diffuser, it would just be an added benefit that it should contribute some acidification of the water. I shall appraise the final tank visually and chemically before making any clear decisions regarding which fish it would be appropriate to buy.

This article points out some serious concerns over diffused CO2 for fish.
Does CO2 injection cause disease? - Practical Fishkeeping

 

[Back in the fold]

This is an interesting topic. Fairly sure everyone has heard of Flint Michigan and their water problems. This is becoming an issue in many localities with more instances appearing all the time. Water is not the regular stable thing we all take for granted. My water in Billings Montana comes from the Yellowstone River which is fed mainly by mountain snowpack runoff. This morning I checked my tap water and it was 60 PPM TDS. It will be upwards of 200 PPM TDS in the dead of winter. Things change. Now, about lead and copper pipes in older homes. It is toxic and I wonder if there is a test for it. There must be. When I first restarted my hobby I was in a home with new plastic water lines and all my fish seemed much healthier and vigorous than in my old hovel with 80 year old water pipes. Water is the sole underlying basis of fish health and should not be taken lightly.

 

[Colin_T]

Now, about lead and copper pipes in older homes. It is toxic and I wonder if there is a test for it. There must be.

There are test kits for copper, just visit the local pet shop and get them to order one in for you. They might be able to get a test kit for lead too but that will be less common.

Check the expiry date on any test kit and try not to buy them if they are kept in warm, humid or brightly lit areas. Heat, humidity and light cause the reagents to break down quicker.

 

[StevenF]

There are test for lead and copper however most of these are limited to detecting high levels these contaminant. You can however send a sample of water by mail to triton.com or ICPanalysi.com. To get accurate levels down to about 0.001 ppm (milligrams per liter). These tests detect about 30 different elements that are typically found in water. You get get these test kits at amazon.com You fill the sample bottle label it and mail it to the lab.

Lead in tap water is a real concern for people as well as fish Copper is frequently discussed in aquarium forums and many say 0.001ppm is toxic to shrimp. but in my blue dream shrimp aquarium I have experimented with copper at 0.02ppm ( 20times higher) and my shrimp continued as normal with reproduction.I have briefly got to 0.03ppm again witout anything obvious happening. I would not be surprise if the lethal limit for shrimp is is significantly higher than 0.030ppm of copper). And the young shrimp appeared normal in every way. I don't know what the limit is for shrimp but I would not be surprised if it is significantly higher than 0.02ppm. Don't worry about copper in aquarium fertilizers Most only dos ether water to o.001ppm.

So I wouldn't worry much about copper. but if your home is 80 years old there is a good chance you have lead water pipes. So lead is much bigger concern for your and your fish. If I recall correctly the EPA limit for lead is about 0.010 ppm or 10 ppb.

 

[Sunnyspots]

This article points out some serious concerns over diffused CO2 for fish.
Does CO2 injection cause disease? - Practical Fishkeeping

Very interesting article, and one that certainly makes me reconsider my plans, but there is a fundamental problem with an article such as this one: it discusses, or even makes, scientific statements without any references. Maybe studies could and should be done on the back of such conjecture. For now, I shall see how things go without additional CO2, when I do get fish, but remain open to the careful addition of a little.

 

[Ichthys]

If in doubt, filter your water through PolyFilter for a few days before it goes near a tank...

 

[Essjay]

To avoid confusion, Ichthys means PolyFilter not filter floss/wool. (it used to be made by Underworld, now it's made by Arcadia. You'll see both names in different places)

Poly-Filter - Arcadia Aquatic

An established favourite from the U.S. the unique POLY-FILTER is now available once more through Arcadia. Poly-Filter is a real asset in the fight to achieve the best water quality and sparkling clarity in your aquarium. There are many chemical products that can build up in the aquarium water...

arcadia-aquatic.com

 

[Sunnyspots]

To avoid confusion, Ichthys means PolyFilter not filter floss/wool. (it used to be made by Underworld, now it's made by Arcadia. You'll see both names in different places)

Poly-Filter - Arcadia Aquatic

An established favourite from the U.S. the unique POLY-FILTER is now available once more through Arcadia. Poly-Filter is a real asset in the fight to achieve the best water quality and sparkling clarity in your aquarium. There are many chemical products that can build up in the aquarium water...

arcadia-aquatic.com

That looks useful stuff!

 

[Ichthys]

That looks useful stuff!

It removes almost all impurities from water. As Essjay eluded to, make sure you get the right one, as there are imposters about. Note the spelling, capital P, capital F, all one word. Written like that it’s a registered trade mark. Available from Arcadia, Underworld (previously) or Poly-Bio-Marine (originally).

 

[Essjay]

I always have some in the cupboard in case I ever need to use medication - it removes the med once treatment has finished.

 

[Sunnyspots]

Is it PolyFilter or Poly-Filter?

 

[Essjay]

The original Underworld product was called PolyFilter but that is no longer available. Google searches for Underworld Polyfilter just bring up the Arcadia replacement which is called Poly-Filter.

 

[Sunnyspots]

Thank you, again. Very helpful.