Water Change Opinion?

[got_nailed]

Just since were on the hot water heater thing. What about all the junk that collects on the bottom of a water heater?
I would think picking up a few 50 watt heaters wouldn't cost much. The water sits for a week, so even for the cheap heater could get the water up to temp in that time. This could help if you could heat 2 or 3 of the buckets to temp. I do think I would try changing about 15 gallons of water a week instead of 20. But each tank is different and will need different amounts of water changes depending on; fish type, fish load, filter, plants, and substrate.

 

[OrionGirl]

A couple quick options: Adding a heater to your holding tub will be a good move. I'd also throw in a small powerhead, to keep the water moving, and oxygenated. Also, it doen't take too much to put a mechanical filter in--you may want to filter the water through one of these first. They sell them at most home improvement stores. Here's a sample, so you kow what' you're looking for--a basic one that will remove particulates will be less than $50 from Wal-Mart or Home Depot.

http://www.omni-water-filters.com/sink-water-filters.htm

 

[RTR]

IME & IMHO, it is not possible to change too much water. I would never suggest that anyone reduce the volume that they change, so long as the change water is a reasonable match for the tank water. The temperature differential here may be too great.

I do age my water before use (primarily chlorine, sometimes chloramine, and yes I do test). But I heat and circulate while aging. My current water supply is low-iron, the old house was in an area with high iron, and the iron did come out during aging. Aquifers high in iron are also low in oxygen, so the ferrous iron stays in solution. During aging the iron will be oxidized by atmospheric O2 and precipitate out.

I'd go with heated buckets if you cannot use the water direct from the tap.

The bulk buildup in water heaters tends to be carbonates

 

[Richer]

What I would do in your situation is to get a couple of holding tubs (rubbermaid trash bins come to mind) and use those to age your water. Put a heater and a powerhead in there, and within a few days, your water will be aged, and heated to match your tank's temperature. Dechlorinate your water as needed.

I agree with RTR, there's no such thing as changing out too much water... as long as the new water put into the tank is close in parameters as the old water.
Thankfully, my water is quite good (aside from its high KH). I change my water directly from the tap and add dechlorinator directly into the tank. Every month or two, I do a very large water change on my tanks (via two 50% water changes in a row). To this date I've never experience a fish death due to water changing.

HTH
-Richer

 

[Karlsbad]

Yikes is this true? I have a new hot water heater and I've been using heated water out of my tap.

Originally posted by Watcher74
It is a fairly well known fact that a lot of water that is heated before it comes out of your faucet contains lead. This is due to lead being in the hot water heater.

If you do a google search on this, it will confirm that. Doctors and health professionals advise against drinking water that comes out of your faucet hot and to definetely not use it to make baby formula with.(I've got a six month old)

So I'd check on that before you put any of that in your tank.

I think it depends on what type of hot water heater you have.

 

[RTR]

I have used heated water for many years with no problems. If I filled my aging reservoirs with cold water I would likely get sweating from condensation,and drips and stains. No thank you.

But I do have a very good (fiberglass) water heater, and it is maintained. My plumbing is copper and the solder lead-free, the incoming water moderately hard and somewhat alkaline. All produce no problems with contamination.

 

[adblair]

Originally posted by Karlsbad
Yikes is this true? I have a new hot water heater and I've been using heated water out of my tap.

'Fraid so. Depends on the water heater though. The problem is that even though lead pipes haven't been used for water supply lines in homes in quite some time, the water heater manufacturers were still using lead components and/or lead solders in their heaters - I guess they didn't expect anyone to drink hot water. The water being hot also increases the leaching of lead into the water. I know at least SOME of the new ones do not contain lead, but I don't know if ALL of the new ones have omitted it. You should either test your water or call customer service for the company that made yours if you want to know for sure. Some brands promote themselves as being "lead-free" so they will probably be able to tell you, based on your model number, if yours does not have lead.