Using rain water for a fish tank.

i have about 3 2000l jojo tanks in my back yard that collect water and at the moment i am not suing it for much. what are the advantages and disadvantages of using rain water for your water changes. i know no chlorine is a big advantage but what risks are there involved.

 

No chlorine and no other chemicals so unless it gets contaminated in. Storage. I can't think of a negative point @Tronix69

 

I don't know Boksburg at all, but depending on the level of air pollution in your area, it may have sulphur and other pollutants dissolved in the rainwater ("acid rain" type thing). I guess it also depends on what your gutters/collection system for the tanks looks like - if there are rotting leaves etc stuck in the gutters it may pick up something from that. I think it would probably be fairly safe though.

 

Thanx @tanked72. the only thing i am worried about is heavy metals from air pollution. dont know if there would be enough in the water to harm the fish.

 

sweet thanx @RoGe. i'll have to climb on the roof and have a look see. i dont think i will have to many leaves as all the trees are have some space from the house. we do have alot of mine dumps around boksburg which i would imagine some dust could settle on the roof and get washed down into the tanks

 

Yes I forgot about the acid rain angle but I don't think it can be that high content @Tronix69

 

To be honest, air pollution around mine dumps is probably fairly well documented, so you might be able to google some information about the levels of dissolved chemicals in rainwater and an idea of whether they're at toxic levels. However, I think it'll be a mission trying to find the air pollution/rainwater information in amongst tons of information about acid mine dump drainage (which obviously doesn't affect your fish tank).

 

Tried googling and found some articles but it does not give to much useful information. i dont think it will be to much of a problem as i could imagine our tap water has alot more harmful crap in it then what the rain contains. only thing i should check is the ph as that would probably be the deciding factor

 

I agree @Tronix69 rain water can only be better than tap water I mean they found mercury in the tap water here in potcheftroom so I think you are safer than most

 

Ja, I do tend to agree that rain water will still be better than tap water..

 

that is quite scary as mercury is seriuosly dangerous stuff. there is a huge uproar about the governmetn pumping raw sewerage into the vaal which ends up in our tap water. guess we can only hope they treat the water well enough to not make us sick.

 

Although we all don't have the means to collect rain water in large. Amounts @RoGe

 

I wonder if doing some tests on the water will reveal anything? Perhaps a GH test? I would use rain water if I had access to such large drums and could convince our landlord to allow it.

 

why not use a couple of those blue plastic drums. they dont take up to much space and if you move you can just take them with you.

 

That's a good idea I'll chat to my husband about sourcing those for us. Would help with the garden as well.

 

I've been considering trying a new black plastic bin, one of those monkey proof ones with handles that clip over the lid. It would look like a normal outside dustbin, and be able to warm the water a little.

 

That sounds like a good idea @RoGe

 

the big jojo tanks we have used to water our garden on an automated system but the system is giving issues and havent gotten around to looking at it properly so the tanks have just filled up. you'd be surprised how much water you can collect in on down pour.
@RoGe that will work you muat juat make sure that the container you use is strong enough to hold the amount of water it can hold. alot of those dustbins are quite thin and might bulge. if you cant finf a strong enough black bin then maybe paint one that is.

 

Yup, this is a major concern with most of the container options I've looked at for streamlining water changes...

 

try somehting like the above. you can pick them up at places like wespack and they are pretty cheap.would be ideal