Does anyone think there is a significant danger from this? Should cold water be boiled for use in water changes, or is the hot tap fine?
Copper from hot water tanks
- Thread starter Faramir
- Start date
I've always heard about this, but I have yet to have a positive test on Cu. I don't have a heated container for my R.O. water from Cub for my Amazon tank. So I'll just fill up my 2 gallon bucket with about 1.5 gallons of the R.O., then put super hot tap water in the bucket to equalize the temps (the R.O. is in the basement, where it's quite cool). Seems to work ok, and I don't seem to have any copper problems.
Interesting question...I'm not sure. I use filtered water for all my changes, but I don't think my filter would remove trace amounts of copper. I'm not sure I have any copper pipes though--have they quit using them in most homes?
No problem at all using water from copper pipes or storage tanks, The amount of dissolved CU the fish would be exposed would not pose a health risk. CU only poses a serious problem when you have mine tailing run off.
Not here they haven't. Our entire heating and water system is copper. But it's the hot water tank itself I'm interested in.
The acid test is to test for copper in the water from the hot tank, I suppose.
It's lead pipe they've stopped using. Copper is still the most popular high pressure water piping. PVC is used a lot when you're on a budget.
Actually it is lead solder they have stopped using, on copper pipes.
Copper is still the standard plumbing line here as well. The most widely used plastic line of a few years ago has been recalled - excessive failures.
On the original question, I've always mixed hot and cold water from the taps without problems. My shrimp and snails still breed just fine and they are far more sensitive than fish. But my water is moderately hard and slightly alkaline. Very soft and acid water is more likely to mobilize copper from the plumbing.
Copper is still the standard plumbing line here as well. The most widely used plastic line of a few years ago has been recalled - excessive failures.
On the original question, I've always mixed hot and cold water from the taps without problems. My shrimp and snails still breed just fine and they are far more sensitive than fish. But my water is moderately hard and slightly alkaline. Very soft and acid water is more likely to mobilize copper from the plumbing.
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in theory, it has long term effects on your fish.
in practise, or so ive found, it doesnt really matter. i take it from my hot water for my tanks. i wouldnt recommend taking water from hot water tanks, but i wouldnt particularly advice against it. depends really what sort of fish you are keeping, whether they are particularly temperamental ones, and really how perfect you like to have your fish tank. for peace of mind, dont use it if you get worried easy, but i have never encountered a problem with it, so i wouldnt worry.
in practise, or so ive found, it doesnt really matter. i take it from my hot water for my tanks. i wouldnt recommend taking water from hot water tanks, but i wouldnt particularly advice against it. depends really what sort of fish you are keeping, whether they are particularly temperamental ones, and really how perfect you like to have your fish tank. for peace of mind, dont use it if you get worried easy, but i have never encountered a problem with it, so i wouldnt worry.