Saving water because of water restrictions

[Jim Morcombe]

A day or so ago I read a post about someone with water restrictions, but I
can't find it now.. As a result they wanted to cut down from their weekly
10% water changes.

If anyone really wants to save water and want to put the time and effort
into it, then they can build a simple water condenser. The used water can
be siphoned into the condensor. When it is time for the next water change,
the distilled water can be used instead of tap water.

Since the condenser will not be 100% efficient, you can top it up with your
used dishwashing water since soap and stuff won't bother it.

Jim

[NetMax]

"Jim Morcombe" > wrote in message
...
> A day or so ago I read a post about someone with water restrictions,
but I
> can't find it now.. As a result they wanted to cut down from their
weekly
> 10% water changes.
>
> If anyone really wants to save water and want to put the time and
effort
> into it, then they can build a simple water condenser. The used water
can
> be siphoned into the condensor. When it is time for the next water
change,
> the distilled water can be used instead of tap water.

Distilled water has very little value as replacement water as it's devoid
of any minerals or salts. It's useful when trying to lower your pH/dgH
to emulate soft water conditions (ie: South American black water), but
otherwise it would not be recommended. It's usually better to maintain
your tank at the conditions of your tap water (unless you tap is at an
extreme, or you have a special requirement). This allows your partial
water changes to have minimal impact on the fish.

> Since the condenser will not be 100% efficient, you can top it up with
your
> used dishwashing water since soap and stuff won't bother it.

I have no clue about what you are trying to do, and I don't see how this
would be helpful to others *sorry*. Condensers cause water molecules in
the air to 'condense' to a material (usually copper or aluminum) which is
cold, and the water then drips into a collection container. Due to the
toxicity of copper, and the ideal conditions for bacterial/dust
contamination, it doesn't seem wise to use this water for anything
involved with fish or invertebrates (which are especially suceptible to
copper poisoning). Even water condensers designed for human consumption
might not work, as copper is not toxic to people. Aluminum is somewhat
toxic to both fish & people. Stainless steel condensing tubes would be
the best, but I don't know where your used dishwashing soap would go.
Perhaps you are thinking of an RO unit?

IMHO water conservation would be best achieved by having a naturally
planted tank (reducing the size of your periodic water changes due to the
filtering effect of the plants), keeping a tight fitting cover on the
tank (tape closed any openings), not using air pumps/airstones (which
push humid air out of the tank), keeping a low fish load (less food =
less waste products = less water changes) and collecting rainwater
(perhaps with some stonework in the tank to restore some of the minerals
not present in rainwater, using tufa, coral, argonite etc). hth

NetMax

> Jim
>
>
>