Rain Water

[beanyboy1982]

does any 1 know what 2 do 2 make rain water safe 4 a fish tank ? the bloke in the shop was going on about it ?

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Should be fine as it is, but make sure its warm enough and make sure you check out its ph and the tanks ph before you put it in .

 

[AMS]

If I remeber correctly rainwater is slightly acidic.

 

[Die_Grinder]

there are too many polutants in rain water and it is acidic. just think of all the car exhaust fumes and powerplants that pump C**P into the air, then when the rain falls it collects it. i would not want that in my tanks .

rain water was fine to usel; years ago but not in modern day.

 

[beanyboy1982]

ok thanks everyone just that some bloke said about it in the shop an said put minarials in it or something

 

[blackguppy]

I'd stay away from rain water at all costs. As stated before, it picks up way to many pollutants from the air, and there's no adequate way short of a reverse osmosis filter to filter them all out.

 

[freddyk]

ok thanks everyone just that some bloke said about it in the shop an said put minarials in it or something

Listen to this bloke. Rainwater is evaperated water coming back down. The nutrients, salts, and minerals that fish need to remain healthy do not evaperate with the water, hence the reason it is so acidic. Do yourself a favor and save the energy and risk by avoiding rain water altogether.

 

[Die_Grinder]

Agreed. rain water is only good for the garden

 

[DazedNCoNfUsEd]

And washing your car when youre too lazy.

 

[Ptarmigan]

.

 

[alex1]

Fantastic answer Ptarmigan, I went through a lot of heart searching before I started to use rain water. But I must say that I am so pleased that I did.
I use probably 2/3 rain 1/3 tap.
Since starting, my beard algea has almost gone, the water is clearer and the fish actually seem a lot brighter(may be my imagination, the last bit)
My phosphates were high from the tap and the rain water has diluted that a lot, it also has lowered my KH which was a bit high previously.
The only pain is going out to get it in the freezing cold. - (have to warm it up obviously.)

 

[Captain Retardo]

If you are going to collect rainwater do it after 10 minutes-20 minutes of raining so that all the stuff that was in the air was washed out before you collect the water.

 

[beanyboy1982]

so if i collect the rain water an add some tap water an make it the same temp as the tank will it be ok 2 add in or will i have 2 add anything else 2 the rain water

 

[arcticwynta]

so if i collect the rain water an add some tap water an make it the same temp as the tank will it be ok 2 add in or will i have 2 add anything else 2 the rain water

I am in Queensland Australia and I live on tank water and all off my tanks and ponds are filled straight from my water tank and have been for 12 years with no problems at all and I have a zincalum tank and roof. I do not add anything to my water except the fish But I am also unsure of other countries and can only speak for myself.

 

[Die_Grinder]

depends on where you live tho, but there will always be some pollution in the air. the green house effect dont just affect certian cities personally i think its easier and less riskey to just turn on the tap may have some high no3 but does my plants well