Standing Water For A Week

Tonyb111111

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Just thought I'd check this practice is ok as I can not see any reason why it shouldn't be. I have two 25 litre drums which I use to to a weekly 25% water change. Once the water change is complete I fill both drums with tap water and dichlor accordingly. I then leave these for a week, sometimes two, until the next water change. Just want to make sure that this practice does not cause any ill affects to the water.
 
should cause no issues at all.......but why are you doing that exactly?
 
You dont need to let it stand if you use dechlor, so im assuming that you do it for room temperature? You dont need to worry about that either as long as its roughly the same (just feel with your hand), infact its better if its a little colder as it mimics the change in seasons and will bring your fish into breeding mode and enhance their colours.
 
If you're dechlorinating it then letting it stand, there's nothing in the water stopping things growing in it. tbh, I don't know how much of a risk this is, but it's a possibility.
 
should cause no issues at all.......but why are you doing that exactly?


Mainly, because I'm in that mode of working and when i get to use the water it will be 18-20 degrees, whereas if i do it on the day it considerably colder. My tank is 25-26 degrees and I think the 6 degree differential is beneficial for the fish, but straight out of the tap is really cold
 
dont you have a hot tap?

i drain about 1/3 out of my tank, then shove the hose in, and add 2 x 10L watering cans of hot water from the hot tap and it helps balance out the temp. less fannying around the better.
 
If you're dechlorinating it then letting it stand, there's nothing in the water stopping things growing in it. tbh, I don't know how much of a risk this is, but it's a possibility.

moch more stuff 'grows' and lives in the tank than in some sealed tap water.
 
You dont need to let it stand if you use dechlor, so im assuming that you do it for room temperature? You dont need to worry about that either as long as its roughly the same (just feel with your hand), infact its better if its a little colder as it mimics the change in seasons and will bring your fish into breeding mode and enhance their colours.


Hi Gilli, my water is bloody cold, and I am not keen on using hot water to elevate the temperature. Maybe its me, but my mum always told me not to drink out of the hot tap due it sitting in a tank for so long, besides its cheaper to fill with cold and warm up naturally

Do you have a hot water tap?

Of course, but dont need to use it if the water is warmed by itself over time. Its just convenient for filling as well, dont like the idea of running hoses through a carpeted house to do the filling. Wife would murder me if one those failed and soaked the floor
 
All would be fine using hot water anyway - the dechlor will take care of any metal elements in the water thats what its for! You wouldnt need to use much hot water and im sure that would be a lot better than having big drums of water lying around the house.
 
+1
good.gif
 
The only reason i fill drums is it is easiest for me, garden hose for outside fill, with dechlor, put in airing cupboard, job done and ready for next top up. If i didnt use the drum i would be using a mixer tap and a hose, but to me the drums are an easier and less risky option (carpets). Thanks all for your replies though, as long as my drummed water is ok after a week I am happy man.

Just thought of another question, does the dechlor remove copper and is there enough in hot water from the tank etc to affect shrimp?
 
If you're dechlorinating it then letting it stand, there's nothing in the water stopping things growing in it. tbh, I don't know how much of a risk this is, but it's a possibility.

moch more stuff 'grows' and lives in the tank than in some sealed tap water.

I suspected as much. Not sure how it differs to a fish tank with fish and plants and movement to a container with no movement or light or anything though.
 
If it really does make things easier for you, at least put airstones in to keep the water circulating. This will help keep the water oxygenated and prevent its getting stagnant.
 
If you only used the additive just before doing the water change, then the chlorine would help keep off any unwanted nasties. Altho if the drums are not lidded then it'll probably only last a day anyway.

Anyway I do the same as you for the sake of getting it up to room temp and to de-chlorinate it. Saves on both boiling water & additive.
 

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