Hot/Warm Water Question

S

sageautumn

AC Members
May 14, 2008
63
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Kentucky
In a post I was reading yesterday about water quality coming out of the water heater, someone said (effectively)...

"Besides, if you're using hot water, you're not doing your fish any favors."

First off... ... really?!??

Second off... wellll, okay... then how do you get the water warmed when water changes are done? I can't imagine mixing in pure cold water then hoping/waiting for it to raise via the tank heater is a very good idea either.

(Or am I just very confused?) (And yes, I realize not all advice--even here--is good advice.)
 
I use water out of the tap, temp adjusted to meet the tank temp, using a Python for refilling........:)
 
Many people believe that water from the hot tank may be contaminated from the cold water storage tank and then from the copper hot tank. My view is that these fish come from rivers I'd sooner drink from the storage tank than drink from. My view on the copper is that it's very unlikely, and since inverts are far more sensitive than fish I'd only start to think about worrying about it if I noticed the snails dying.
 
Possible problems can arise if you use water aged ina hot water tank that is really out and dirty and has not been maintained. But most people do just fine adding warm water from their tap, especially those that use Pythons.
 
Hmmmm... all very interesting.

(I do use a Python, and used to keep snails--which lived, so I figure I'm good. After some research online, I'm truly guessing my gas water heater doesn't container copper. Though it will get a ton of crap in the tank if the purge/maintence isn't done on it.)

Still... all very interesting.
 
The only unmentioned issue is gas exchange.

Gas is much less soluble in hot water than in cold water, so when you heat water, you tend to drive off dissolved O2, among other things. The water can cool more quickly than it can reach equilibrium with respect to dissolved gas content (unless it is agitated). So, if you were to boil water, then allow it to cool to a tank-appropriate temperature, then do a 50% PWC, you could conceivably kill your fish via asphyxiation. Adding a little hot water to mix temp. appropriate replacement water is fine, especially as there is generally some agitation associated with the filling process (get that Python tubing up, out of the tank water, let it splash some). If you seldome use hot water, it would be best to run it a bit before collecting water for the tank, just to remove any loose contaminants and leached impurities from the lines and to preheat them a bit (lest your 80°F water wind up being 85°F water shortly after you begin replacement via Python). The contamnants issue also applies to the cold side, if you are using a seldom used faucet.
 
I use water straight from the tap with the temp. adjusted and everything is ordinarily fine. If there is too much temp. fluctuation you will run into problems with shocking your fish. However, if you do suspect a problem from the tap then you can test the tap water but I do think you should try to match the temp of the water you are adding to the tank to the actual temp of the tank water to miminize any shock to your fishie friends.

Marinemom
 
Straight from the tap here, no issues for the last 30 yrs.
 
i use water temp adjusted from tap and i do 75% water changes and my fish look like the breathe better than before,.. haven't had to do mouth to mouth yet!
 
Marinemom said:
if you do suspect a problem from the tap then you can test the tap water
Click to expand...

Nope. I don't. Thing is, I heard/saw that "don't-use-hot-water" statement, and it just boggled me completely.

I figure if I had issues with water from the tap, my snails would've died much quicker than they did. I had them for around two-three years with no problems.
 
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