pk333 Posted November 15, 2015 Report Share Posted November 15, 2015 Hi guys, just after some thoughts and information. Would it be safe to treat rain water from a rain water tank with swimming pool chlorine, or another product you can think of, and then treat with Superchlor (or another dechlorinator). Just wondering what would be safe to teat it for any possible pathogens in the water. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluebelle Posted November 15, 2015 Report Share Posted November 15, 2015 (edited) For the last 35 years never used anything but rainwater, there's no town water where I am. Never ever treated tank water in any way, shudder to think what poisons you have in mind LOL! Sorry, not really the advise you're after..... Edited November 15, 2015 by bluebelle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingerbeer Posted November 16, 2015 Report Share Posted November 16, 2015 The risk I consider with tank water are pollutants and heavy metals rather than pathogens. Hence I would not. I would if I was really concerned still put through an RO filter system. Personally I am not concerned and use straight from my rain water tank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smicko Posted November 16, 2015 Report Share Posted November 16, 2015 I was reading about some parasites in tank water the other day and it mentioned treating with chlorine tablets to kill them and it was still safe levels to drink from. I'm not sure where you would find them but I would try rural supply stores, camping stores or eBay. You could then treat with supachlor to remove the chlorine and any ammonia left from dying parasites. Cheers mick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lictoga Posted November 16, 2015 Report Share Posted November 16, 2015 Can't see a issue, can use those chlorine test strips for pools to check levels after you use the dechlor. I have never bothered tho Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lostfish Posted November 16, 2015 Report Share Posted November 16, 2015 Been using water from my tank and i live about 15 min from the city. I have not had any issues so far. Never treat it at all just goes straight into my tank. Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterw Posted November 16, 2015 Report Share Posted November 16, 2015 Just treat it with respect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kainej Posted November 16, 2015 Report Share Posted November 16, 2015 Ive used rainwater straight from the tank for a few years now, with all sorts of fish and shrimp including hard to keep ones. Never had a problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tuffy_rana Posted November 18, 2015 Report Share Posted November 18, 2015 Use a uv sterilizer Add bicarb soda because the water will be acidic Add epsom salts because the water has no trace elements and magnesium is a nice one to have Do not use a chemical and then remove it 😊 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mbunamad Posted November 18, 2015 Report Share Posted November 18, 2015 @tuffyranatorrielover Where have you been? Love your sig! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pk333 Posted November 18, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 18, 2015 Use a uv sterilizerAdd bicarb soda because the water will be acidic Add epsom salts because the water has no trace elements and magnesium is a nice one to have Do not use a chemical and then remove it 😊 Hey [MENTION=2856]tuffy_rana[/MENTION], yeah I have been thinking UV as the best way to go. As I am keeping discus, acidic is not a problem. I don't use 100% rain water, usually 50/50 rain water to tap water. If anything, I would add one of the discus trace element products. Thanks for everyones input. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tuffy_rana Posted November 18, 2015 Report Share Posted November 18, 2015 Out of the game for a little while due to a relationship issue. Back in the game now 😆 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ageofaquariums Posted November 19, 2015 Report Share Posted November 19, 2015 Treating rainwater is a tricky due to the sheer volume. In general I find it more useful to focus on improving it, rather than treating it. The initial quality of the rainwater is not just decided by your location but also the condition of the roof. A product that is effective at re-mineralising rainwater on a large scale is the Kusuri montmorillonite clay. This is sold dry, and at a dose rate of 25g per 2000 Litres is an economical way to improve rainwater for aquarium fish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pk333 Posted November 19, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2015 (edited) I pump rain water (and tap water) from a rain water tank in to an IBC through a two stage filter, a micron particle cartridge and carbon cartridge. My concern is not remineralising rain water, but rather what chemical pollutants may be in it, and what bacterial or pathogens may be in it. Edited November 19, 2015 by pk333 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingerbeer Posted November 19, 2015 Report Share Posted November 19, 2015 Treating rainwater is a tricky due to the sheer volume. In general I find it more useful to focus on improving it, rather than treating it. The initial quality of the rainwater is not just decided by your location but also the condition of the roof.A product that is effective at re-mineralising rainwater on a large scale is the Kusuri montmorillonite clay. This is sold dry, and at a dose rate of 25g per 2000 Litres is an economical way to improve rainwater for aquarium fish. I have not decided how I am going, but think it is important that you add something back to the water. I have not decided what I will be doing in my apisto tanks, but something like this is interesting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ageofaquariums Posted November 20, 2015 Report Share Posted November 20, 2015 I have not decided how I am going, but think it is important that you add something back to the water. I have not decided what I will be doing in my apisto tanks, but something like this is interesting. If you are looking for an interesting mineral, its hard to beat the montmorillonite clays. Relevant and semi interesting ~ Montmorillonite is effective as an adsorptive of heavy metals. Irrelevant and very interesting ~ Montmorillonite is also known to cause micelles (lipid spheres) to assemble together into vesicles. These structures resemble cell membranes on many cells. It can also help nucleotides to assemble into RNA which will end up inside the vesicles. This could have generated highly complex RNA polymers that could reproduce the RNA trapped within the vesicles. This process may have led to the origin of life on Earth. Minerals similar to montmorillonites have been found on Mars, too. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montmorillonite Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buck Posted November 20, 2015 Report Share Posted November 20, 2015 I pump rain water (and tap water) from a rain water tank in to an IBC through a two stage filter, a micron particle cartridge and carbon cartridge.My concern is not remineralising rain water, but rather what chemical pollutants may be in it, and what bacterial or pathogens may be in it. http://www.aquaoneaust.com.au/Office-or-Factory/water-tank-filter-systems.html ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lictoga Posted November 20, 2015 Report Share Posted November 20, 2015 Treating rainwater is a tricky due to the sheer volume. In general I find it more useful to focus on improving it, rather than treating it. The initial quality of the rainwater is not just decided by your location but also the condition of the roof.A product that is effective at re-mineralising rainwater on a large scale is the Kusuri montmorillonite clay. This is sold dry, and at a dose rate of 25g per 2000 Litres is an economical way to improve rainwater for aquarium fish. Are you Guys stocking the clay? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pk333 Posted November 20, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 20, 2015 http://www.aquaoneaust.com.au/Office-or-Factory/water-tank-filter-systems.html ? Thanks. That's where I bought my current system from. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ageofaquariums Posted November 20, 2015 Report Share Posted November 20, 2015 Are you Guys stocking the clay? We currently have the 1kg and 3kg bags. Loving the inception sig btw. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lictoga Posted November 20, 2015 Report Share Posted November 20, 2015 We currently have the 1kg and 3kg bags. Loving the inception sig btw. Sweet will hopefully be down tomorrow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grigby Posted November 20, 2015 Report Share Posted November 20, 2015 I use the same set up in my 1300 ltr discus tank. Pump it into IBC, through a charcoal filter purchased at Bunning ($37 housing & $17 filter) add tap water to get right PH etc & add in discus trace elements. You could use a fine micron filter to pull smaller levels of crap: Pathogens unknown? You could sterilize your water before using it. Read the following to calculate the size UV required - pathogens require the water to move slowly through the UV sterilizer. http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?articleid=435 Haven't had a problem to date, however I had my tiled roof cleaned & repainted about 2 years ago, in some special reflective stuff, it is very clean. The amount of crap on the roof may make a difference: bird poo etc. I always run the pump into the garden for a few minutes before putting it into my IBC, as the pump outlet is on the bottom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coffee Posted November 25, 2015 Report Share Posted November 25, 2015 on tank water as well and also use the bi carb and epsom salt very little needed for a 4ft tank. water is run through a pump/filter before coming out the tap....ever so slightly off 7.0 ph with 0 chlorine and 0 ammonia..... fish are happy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ageofaquariums Posted November 25, 2015 Report Share Posted November 25, 2015 Would it be cheaper to send a sample of your rainwater in to get tested for 'pathogens' and then treat any problems found? Who knows, your rainwater may be amazing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grigby Posted November 26, 2015 Report Share Posted November 26, 2015 Are you saying that AOA will test water for pathogens? What's the cost? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
