Is it ok to use water from the hot tap as well as cold when doing water changes? I obviously know not to put steaming hot water in but i was wondering if it's ok to bring up the temperature of the cold water by adding some warm water from the hot tap? I have heard that the water from the hot tap contains too much copper to use, is this also true?
Water From The Hot Tap Ok?
- Thread starter Sausage
- Start date
fatheadminnow
Fish Aficionado
This is what I do, match the temp by adding warm water when doing water changes.
As long as you use a good water conditioner, I use API Stress Coat Plus, one that will remove heavy metals, which is usually Iron and copper, you will be just fine.
-FHM
As long as you use a good water conditioner, I use API Stress Coat Plus, one that will remove heavy metals, which is usually Iron and copper, you will be just fine.
-FHM
That's great thanks. I use Seachem Prime, will this be ok ?This is what I do, match the temp by adding warm water when doing water changes.
As long as you use a good water conditioner, I use API Stress Coat Plus, one that will remove heavy metals, which is usually Iron and copper, you will be just fine.
-FHM
fatheadminnow
Fish Aficionado
Yes, that is an excellent water conditioner.
It should also say on the bottle what it removes from the water, so you will know for sure.
-FHM
It should also say on the bottle what it removes from the water, so you will know for sure.
-FHM
waterdrop
Enthusiastic "Re-Beginner"
I've not heard the issue of hot tap water thought of in quite those terms.
Usually the discussion centers around the type of hot water system the house has. The OP hasn't filled in their location in their profile yet (that would help Sausage, at least so we know UK vs. USA vs. elsewhere type thing) but often the broadest generalization is that if you are in USA, the the typical hot water heater is likely to be "glass-lined" and if you are in UK, then you have to find out a little more closely the heating method as it might entail quite a lot more copper if the hot water sits exposed to a lot of copper from its tank and coils.
Its not clear to me whether this could mean that there is so much copper that the conditioners wouldn't be able to get it all out or whether indeed it could!
Anyone?? Perhaps someone among the members will know or we could put it to the science forum and see if bignose looks in on us!
~~waterdrop~~
Usually the discussion centers around the type of hot water system the house has. The OP hasn't filled in their location in their profile yet (that would help Sausage, at least so we know UK vs. USA vs. elsewhere type thing) but often the broadest generalization is that if you are in USA, the the typical hot water heater is likely to be "glass-lined" and if you are in UK, then you have to find out a little more closely the heating method as it might entail quite a lot more copper if the hot water sits exposed to a lot of copper from its tank and coils.
Its not clear to me whether this could mean that there is so much copper that the conditioners wouldn't be able to get it all out or whether indeed it could!
Anyone?? Perhaps someone among the members will know or we could put it to the science forum and see if bignose looks in on us!
~~waterdrop~~
markandhisfish
comfortably numb
This is what I do, match the temp by adding warm water when doing water changes.
As long as you use a good water conditioner, I use API Stress Coat Plus, one that will remove heavy metals, which is usually Iron and copper, you will be just fine.
-FHM
exactly what i do also using stress coat+
keenonfish
Fish Addict
interesting. I can't imagine water sitting in an immersion heater long enough to leach a significant amount of copper tbh. Doubt the pipework would last very long if it did! I would be more concerned about other contaminants from the loft water tank. yuk hate old immersion systems!
We have a combi boiler so the water just whizzes through a little heat exchanger so I don't worry at all.
fatheadminnow
Fish Aficionado
Yeah, I am very pleased with this product, one of the "better" things I have bought for my tank for sure!This is what I do, match the temp by adding warm water when doing water changes.
As long as you use a good water conditioner, I use API Stress Coat Plus, one that will remove heavy metals, which is usually Iron and copper, you will be just fine.
-FHM
exactly what i do also using stress coat+
-FHM
waterdrop
Enthusiastic "Re-Beginner"
Well I'm not sure where they all are but usually people come out of the woodwork and say they will not use their house hot water but will heat their water with a kettle...
~~waterdrop~~
~~waterdrop~~
That's what i do at the moment or i heat up some water on the stove. Some interesting thoughts on this, i might risk it from the hot tap next time i do a small water change, hopefully all will be good.
How would excess copper in the tank manifest itself?
I'd like to start using hot tap water (id buy a good water conditioner) but im afraid it may contain the copper and maybe the conditioner wont rid it all...so what i currently do is use 2L boiling water to every 10L cold water.2 buckets per water change on 90L tank...so boiling the kettle twice back to back,and the tank temp doesnt really drop while doing the change
I'd like to start using hot tap water (id buy a good water conditioner) but im afraid it may contain the copper and maybe the conditioner wont rid it all...so what i currently do is use 2L boiling water to every 10L cold water.2 buckets per water change on 90L tank...so boiling the kettle twice back to back,and the tank temp doesnt really drop while doing the change
Mikaila31
Always Watching
I always use my hot tap when filling tanks. Mix it with the cold tap to get the right temp. As always i do not add any condtioners or dechlor to the tank, since I use well water.
arobinson1984
Fish Gatherer
I fill a couple of buckets with cold water and I bought 2 spare cheap heaters from ebay for about £6 each and i put a heater in each bucket for about 3 hours then do the change as the water in buckets reaches correct temp in about 2-3 hours.
Andy
Andy
There is another aspect to using water from the hot tap besides the copper question. This applies to the type of system where the hot water sits in a tank, then when some is used, the tank is topped up from a cold water tank in the attic. The tank in the attic is not sealed, it just has a loose lid which doesn't fit tightly. I was always told you should never use hot water for cooking as you don't know what's got into the attic tank.
Last year we had a wasps nest in the attic. The man came and removed it, and sprayed insecticide to get the last few. A couple of months ago, the washer in the tap in the attic tank needed replacing, and there were quite a few dead wasps floating in it. Did they die of natural causes or were they poisoned by the insecticide? Could any insecticide have leached out into the water from the dead wasps, or indeed could any of the spray have got into the tank from the air? I can't imagine it would have done the fish much good if I'd used contaminated water - it never occurred to me to look for dead wasps. I've also heard horror stories over the years of dead birds, mice etc in the attic tank!
Last year we had a wasps nest in the attic. The man came and removed it, and sprayed insecticide to get the last few. A couple of months ago, the washer in the tap in the attic tank needed replacing, and there were quite a few dead wasps floating in it. Did they die of natural causes or were they poisoned by the insecticide? Could any insecticide have leached out into the water from the dead wasps, or indeed could any of the spray have got into the tank from the air? I can't imagine it would have done the fish much good if I'd used contaminated water - it never occurred to me to look for dead wasps. I've also heard horror stories over the years of dead birds, mice etc in the attic tank!
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