Rainwater

[freddybadger]

I have fitted on one of my drainpipes on my house a rainwater diverter which diverts rainwater into my swimming pool(saves on the water meter). Iam thinking of fitting another one and running it into a 205 litre plastic barrel. Iam going to fit a small pump to the outlet and use it for water changes. I will be adding the correct amount of dechlorinator just as a safety measure. The barrel will be situated not to far from my tank.I will seal the barrel when not in use as not to get any debris in it.I have a leaf/crapcatcher fitted on the gutter. A bit worried about anything that will grow in the barrel.

Any thoughts anyone?

 

[llamalord305]

http/homepage.mac.com/nmonks/Projects/rainwater.html

Thats an article about catching rainwater.

The main thing it would be worried about is what the diverter is made of. I wouldnt trust metal.
I doubt much would grow if you kept it covered.

 

[fatheadminnow]

Just as long you don't live in a place where there is smog.

-FHM

 

[jourdy288]

I actually use a pitcher type water filter for my rainwater, despite the fact that I live in the countryside, I'd hate to take any chances. I really recommend using one for rainwater, dechlorinator too if you want.

 

[freddybadger]

Plastic diverter/barrel and pipes oh yes I live in Brisbane downunder!!

 

[OldMan47]

I use rain water all the time. Nothing as fancy as what you are proposing but I wait for the rain to flush my gutters well then collect the water in 5 gallon buckets and store in storage containers in my fish room. A good thunderstorm will fill all of my available space and I will use that water for a month or more as if it was purified water. I find that the rain water I collect is lower in mineral content than the water coming from my RO unit. That means that I have real rain water to try to induce my cories to spawn and to act as the makeup water on a tank that is running a bit low and needs topping off. A note here, I wait for several volumes of the 5 gallon bucket to ruin out of my gutters before I collect even the first drop of rain. My intent is to let the rain flush everything out before I start using the water. I feel that the flush before the water is collected is one of the main reasons this technique works for me. If I collected the first drop, I am afraid the water for my tank would not be nearly as clean.

 

[freddybadger]

My diverter for my pool is very good sometimes a little to good if I forget to turn it off! When it rains here it RAINS!so flushing them should be no prob. I have done a visual of the gutters all looks good. I`ll see how things go