Water from air conditioner?

[AngieB]

It's hot and the window A/C is running constantly. I can collect a 5-gallon
bucket of water dripping from the condenser about every other day. Would
this water be safe to use to top off the pond? It's clear, clean-looking
water, but I didn't know what might be in there that you can't see or smell.
Any thoughts on the safety of using it? Would it hurt my fish?

I will admit that I did use it once before I put much thought into it. The
fish are fine, but wondered later about long-term.

I have a small, 60-gallon pond -- and yes, I have too many fish: one 6"
Comet and eight 2" goldfish. No filter yet, but my Fish Mate bio filter is
supposed to be here by Friday. Yay!

Thanks,
Angie

[Rich]

Yaw why not It's only dehydrated.


"AngieB" > wrote in message
...
> It's hot and the window A/C is running constantly. I can collect a
5-gallon
> bucket of water dripping from the condenser about every other day. Would
> this water be safe to use to top off the pond? It's clear, clean-looking
> water, but I didn't know what might be in there that you can't see or
smell.
> Any thoughts on the safety of using it? Would it hurt my fish?
>
> I will admit that I did use it once before I put much thought into it. The
> fish are fine, but wondered later about long-term.
>
> I have a small, 60-gallon pond -- and yes, I have too many fish: one 6"
> Comet and eight 2" goldfish. No filter yet, but my Fish Mate bio filter is
> supposed to be here by Friday. Yay!
>
> Thanks,
> Angie
>

[Bill Stock]

"AngieB" > wrote in message
...
> It's hot and the window A/C is running constantly. I can collect a
5-gallon
> bucket of water dripping from the condenser about every other day. Would
> this water be safe to use to top off the pond? It's clear, clean-looking
> water, but I didn't know what might be in there that you can't see or
smell.
> Any thoughts on the safety of using it? Would it hurt my fish?
>
> I will admit that I did use it once before I put much thought into it. The
> fish are fine, but wondered later about long-term.
>
> I have a small, 60-gallon pond -- and yes, I have too many fish: one 6"
> Comet and eight 2" goldfish. No filter yet, but my Fish Mate bio filter is
> supposed to be here by Friday. Yay!
>
> Thanks,
> Angie

I'd be worried about metals in the water, Copper, Aluminum, Lead, etc.

[Carl Beyer]

In article >,
AngieB > wrote:

> It's hot and the window A/C is running constantly. I can collect a 5-gallon
> bucket of water dripping from the condenser about every other day. Would
> this water be safe to use to top off the pond? It's clear, clean-looking
> water, but I didn't know what might be in there that you can't see or smell.
> Any thoughts on the safety of using it? Would it hurt my fish?
>
> I will admit that I did use it once before I put much thought into it. The
> fish are fine, but wondered later about long-term.
>
> I have a small, 60-gallon pond -- and yes, I have too many fish: one 6"
> Comet and eight 2" goldfish. No filter yet, but my Fish Mate bio filter is
> supposed to be here by Friday. Yay!
>
> Thanks,
> Angie

IMO, I probably wouldn't use it. The water itself is probably pure
enough, but it is collecting and condensing on coils that have dirty air
sucked through them. As well, the coils can breed bacteria, and the can
put off metal...

In the grand scheme of things... it probably won't hurt, but too much of
a risk for me..

Carl

--
--
http://www.cobaltbluefilms.com

[Pepperqueen]

Hi!
I would really be concerned about mentals and all that dust that filter out.
Good luck with your bio-filter. They are great!!

Deb.
http://hotcuisine.esmartweb.com/
"AngieB" > wrote in message
...
> It's hot and the window A/C is running constantly. I can collect a
5-gallon
> bucket of water dripping from the condenser about every other day. Would
> this water be safe to use to top off the pond? It's clear, clean-looking
> water, but I didn't know what might be in there that you can't see or
smell.
> Any thoughts on the safety of using it? Would it hurt my fish?
>
> I will admit that I did use it once before I put much thought into it. The
> fish are fine, but wondered later about long-term.
>
> I have a small, 60-gallon pond -- and yes, I have too many fish: one 6"
> Comet and eight 2" goldfish. No filter yet, but my Fish Mate bio filter is
> supposed to be here by Friday. Yay!
>
> Thanks,
> Angie
>

[Rich]

OK let's ask a chemist, I don't think 5 gallons in 300 is a drop.


"Pepperqueen" > wrote in message
...
> Hi!
> I would really be concerned about mentals and all that dust that filter
out.
> Good luck with your bio-filter. They are great!!
>
> Deb.
> http://hotcuisine.esmartweb.com/
> "AngieB" > wrote in message
> ...
> > It's hot and the window A/C is running constantly. I can collect a
> 5-gallon
> > bucket of water dripping from the condenser about every other day. Would
> > this water be safe to use to top off the pond? It's clear, clean-looking
> > water, but I didn't know what might be in there that you can't see or
> smell.
> > Any thoughts on the safety of using it? Would it hurt my fish?
> >
> > I will admit that I did use it once before I put much thought into it.
The
> > fish are fine, but wondered later about long-term.
> >
> > I have a small, 60-gallon pond -- and yes, I have too many fish: one 6"
> > Comet and eight 2" goldfish. No filter yet, but my Fish Mate bio filter
is
> > supposed to be here by Friday. Yay!
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Angie
> >
>
>

[Crashj]

AngieB > wrote in message >...
> Well, after reading all the responses, I guess we've decided it's really not
> a good idea. I'm sure the one time didn't hurt anything.
>
> I thought I had discovered a way to have dechlorinated water "on tap"!
>
> Thanks for the advice all!
<>
OTOH, I once had a dehumidifier running in the basement and always
dumped the water in my aquariums. We were ona well, and any makeup
from the tap was mineral laden, so the distillation from the
dehumidifier was helpful. The active partwas a coil of 3/8" tube, so
there was not the problem of dirt from the fins of an AC unit.
If dechlorinated water on tap is your goal, I think I have mentioned
my shower filter before? Email me.
--
Crashj

[Benign Vanilla]

"AngieB" > wrote in message
...
> It's hot and the window A/C is running constantly. I can collect a
5-gallon
> bucket of water dripping from the condenser about every other day. Would
> this water be safe to use to top off the pond? It's clear, clean-looking
> water, but I didn't know what might be in there that you can't see or
smell.
> Any thoughts on the safety of using it? Would it hurt my fish?
>
> I will admit that I did use it once before I put much thought into it. The
> fish are fine, but wondered later about long-term.
>
> I have a small, 60-gallon pond -- and yes, I have too many fish: one 6"
> Comet and eight 2" goldfish. No filter yet, but my Fish Mate bio filter is
> supposed to be here by Friday. Yay!

Theoretically that water is just condensation, and should have no
contamination from the AC unit. I'd probably use it in the garden first
though. I am a bit paranoid.

BV.

[Benign Vanilla]

"Crashj" > wrote in message
om...
<snip>
> If dechlorinated water on tap is your goal, I think I have mentioned
> my shower filter before? Email me.
<snip>

Oh do tell.

BV.

[Robyn Rhudy]

On Mon, 19 Jul 2004, Rich wrote:

> OK let's ask a chemist, I don't think 5 gallons in 300 is a drop.

Chemist (with Masters degree in analytical chemistry who tests boring
stuff all day) with half a brain says that's 1.7% or 16,666.67 ppm which
is a lot. But, if you say that the 5 gallons has say 1% contaminants,
then you've added 167 ppm of bad stuff. Not good. Here at work, I'm
looking in the ppb range. If it's ppm and something bad, it's a lot.

The water would have some contamination from the pipes in the system and
all the stuff floating in the house air. I wouldn't risk it. Use the
air conditioner water for watering plants. Even then, keep an eye out for
leaf discoloration.

>
>
> "Pepperqueen" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Hi!
> > I would really be concerned about mentals and all that dust that filter
> out.
> > Good luck with your bio-filter. They are great!!
> >
> > Deb.
> > http://hotcuisine.esmartweb.com/
> > "AngieB" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > It's hot and the window A/C is running constantly. I can collect a
> > 5-gallon
> > > bucket of water dripping from the condenser about every other day. Would
> > > this water be safe to use to top off the pond? It's clear, clean-looking
> > > water, but I didn't know what might be in there that you can't see or
> > smell.
> > > Any thoughts on the safety of using it? Would it hurt my fish?
> > >
> > > I will admit that I did use it once before I put much thought into it.
> The
> > > fish are fine, but wondered later about long-term.
> > >
> > > I have a small, 60-gallon pond -- and yes, I have too many fish: one 6"
> > > Comet and eight 2" goldfish. No filter yet, but my Fish Mate bio filter
> is
> > > supposed to be here by Friday. Yay!
> > >
> > > Thanks,
> > > Angie
> > >
> >
> >
>
>
>

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[Cam]

AngieB wrote:
> It's hot and the window A/C is running constantly. I can collect a
5-gallon
> bucket of water dripping from the condenser about every other day.
Would
> this water be safe to use to top off the pond?
>
> Thanks,
> Angie

I think I'd rather drink direct from my pond than from my A/C. I live
in the city and therefore my A/C water is distilled smog. Try testing
the ph of your A/C water. I bet even in the country it's a little
acidic.

Cam

[Gareee©]

We used the water from our AC for 2 years to water our flowers and plants,
with no ill effect at all.

There was a drought in NC, and they were trying to conserve water, and we
were trying to do our part.

--
Gareee©
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