Rain Water?

**Alfcea** · 10-08-2008, 11:48 PM

Hello all,

Well, it seems like the rainy season is starting (yes, I live in Canada's "wet" coast! lol!!!). Anyways, I have decided that I want to do my bit to save our world's fresh water resources and I'd like to use rain water for my water changes...

.... but, since I have never done it before, I don't know where to start. Has anybody done it before? What I should be careful about? The only thing that comes to mind is temperature... I will measure the pH just to have an idea of what it is, but as long as it is not lower than Coke, I think it should be fine, right? I don't think I need to add any dechlorinator... What else? Anybody has any ideas?

Thanks for any advice...

**travie** · 10-09-2008, 12:01 AM

Unless you live near a power plant or some factory that is really close to you rain water should be okay. I would get a 55 gallon plastic barrel and rig something up so it will funnel into the barrel.

**PUNISHER VETTE** · 10-09-2008, 12:25 AM

I thought about that at one point and decided against it. They make kits that you can buy if you really wanted to invest a little. Might collect enough to use for house stuff too...

1 no matter what i couldn't get enough for my 110g...or even half which is what you need to do. Since rainwater is too pure you can't only use it.

2. No matter what you think you'll still get contaminates. Especially me since i was going to use my roof as a collector.

3. What are you going to do the rest of the year? I figured it wouldn't be very good to keep changing the type of water that the tank received. More constant would be better.

**Dr.Fragenstein** · 10-09-2008, 12:30 AM

Many people use rain water, have for years and will for years. Like stated pollution can DEFINETLY be an issue w/ rain water but it will most likely have FAR LESS than tap or well for that matter. I would test the gH and kH of the water as well as pH. Most likely all will be VERY low. You will most likely need to add a buffer to the water. As far as temp is concerned, toss in a small submersible heater into the barrel and a power head and you should be fine. Depending on how much water you will change the temp might not be that much of an issue.

Good luck w/ the whole green fishkeeping thing!!

**cocoa_pleco** · 10-09-2008, 12:32 AM

Originally Posted by travie

Picture Time! It is still a little cloudy. I didn't get around to mixing up water, so I didn't do a water change. I laid the LR on the back right corner on the LR in front of it, which now looks a lot better. I told you guys/gals that I will have a deep, deep sand bed.

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...s/100_2637.jpg

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...s/100_2638.jpg

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...s/100_2641.jpg

random pic alert!

**travie** · 10-09-2008, 12:58 AM

Originally Posted by cocoa_pleco

random pic alert!

What are you talking about?

Alfcea, I believe Dave66 collects rain water. I would contact him and see how he does it, and go from there.

**Mvjnz** · 10-09-2008, 01:54 AM

I can't imagine how rainwater would be any worse than the water in the fish' natural habitat, or your tap water for that matter. What do you think fills the dams?

I don't know how the rest of the world collects rainwater, but around here we use rainwater tanks, which you can buy pretty much everywhere, in different sizes, from 100 litres up to 1000s of litres.

I'd test it first tho, maybe in a small tank with fish that aren't too expensive, if you have any, and get them used to it slowly.

**gm72** · 10-09-2008, 02:19 AM

Originally Posted by travie

What are you talking about?

He was talking about your post that you placed in the wrong forum and was subsequently deleted per your request.

**Gemini** · 10-09-2008, 03:59 AM

[QUOTE=Mvjnz]
I don't know how the rest of the world collects rainwater, but around here we use rainwater tanks, which you can buy pretty much everywhere, in different sizes, from 100 litres up to 1000s of litres.
QUOTE]

I'm not sure the rest of the world has the water tank place on each street corner taking advantage of our water restrictions....
There are also places here that sell collapsible water tanks. IT's made of tarpauline like material and you can set them to collect the water from the down pipe.
I can't see why the water would be worse then the stuff that comes out of the tap either.

**PUNISHER VETTE** · 10-09-2008, 04:07 AM

I would think the tap water gets filtered, and processed to eliminate any parasites and bacteria and unwanted minerals/toxins.

I still think the rain water would be clean around my parts but the only way i'd want to collect it would be from the roof and it's the asphalt type material.

wooden shingles....maybe.