Rain water?

[clowntriggerfis]

I have a FO tank and was wondering if I can use rain water for water changes because I get about 50in of rain a year where I live? If so what should I treat the water with if anything? I was not sure where to post this so if I should move this thread to a diferent to forum let me no. Thanks

 

[AlexS95]

It will probably be polluted with something, I wouldn't.

 

[palmer373]

Ive been curious about using rainwater for WC also. I do not agree with Alex, I always thought evaporation consists of only H2O molecules. Only FW evaporates from our tanks, that is why we top off with FW, so I would assume no pollutants would evaporate.

Now the rainwater could be contaminated when the water hits the roof and drains into the rainwater bucket, which could be why you're saying it is probably polluted, but if you can collect rainwater without it coming in contact with the roof or something so it is pure, I think you can use rainwater to top off or do water changes in a FO system.

 

[Recty]

Ive been curious about using rainwater for WC also. I do not agree with Alex, I always thought evaporation consists of only H2O molecules. Only FW evaporates from our tanks, that is why we top off with FW, so I would assume no pollutants would evaporate.

Now the rainwater could be contaminated when the water hits the roof and drains into the rainwater bucket, which could be why you're saying it is probably polluted, but if you can collect rainwater without it coming in contact with the roof or something so it is pure, I think you can use rainwater to top off or do water changes in a FO system.

Read up on acid rain and see if that changes your mind

Basically, rain can carry all kinds of pollutants from the air. The more smog and fumes in the air from being near a city you are, the poorer quality the rain will be as it falls to the ground.

Good point about the roof and stuff also causing issues.

 

[palmer373]

Read up on acid rain and see if that changes your mind

Basically, rain can carry all kinds of pollutants from the air. The more smog and fumes in the air from being near a city you are, the poorer quality the rain will be as it falls to the ground.

Good point about the roof and stuff also causing issues.

Well then... I can't believe i missed smog/acid rain...

 

[namxas]

I was going to bring up those points (don't use runoff, air pollution, cover the container between rainstorms, etc.), but I was also going to suggest that if you have long periods of rain, you could let it rain a day, then open the barrel and collect your water after the first day of rain has washed most of the pollution out of the air temporarily.

 

[Sonicblast12]

Tried it once and the water was very very dirty and the PH was low if I remember correctly. I don't think you can be assured of what you are getting.

 

[namxas]

I know some folks that use rain water, and that's how they do it. I suppose it depends on how much particulate contamination is in the air at a given location. Living in the L.A. area, I'd never do it, but then again, it rarely rains here.

I'd suspect the pH to be low, since pure water has a pH of 7, which is why we buffer our top-off water.

 

[clowntriggerfis]

Thanks for the info because of what was said I dont think I will try it though.

 

[TitanTV]

hmmm...Honestly..the crud they put in city/town water is probably worse than anything it picks up in the atmosphere as the rain falls.

 

[disc1]

I'd suspect the pH to be low, since pure water has a pH of 7, which is why we buffer our top-off water.

Buffering your top off water does absolutely zero. The water in your tank is buffered by carbonate / bicarbonate and that will set the pH. All you are doing is wasting buffer. The pH of your top off water will have absolutely zero effect on the pH in the tank.

 

[disc1]

Rainwater pH is low because as the rain falls it picks up and dissolves gasses from the atmosphere. Things like CO2, NOx, and SOx all dissolve in water to create acids.

These acids will also have no effect whatsoever on the pH in your tank if you used rainwater because seawater is so well buffered. The problem is that NOx becomes nitrate, SOx becomes sulfate, etc. etc. etc.

 

[VoiceInTheDeser]

As a few have said, it'll totally depend on where you live. Here in Phoenix, there's no chance I could get away with it because of all the pollutants in the air. My in-laws out in the country though might be able to get away with it.

Nothing wrong with collecting some and testing it for the basics. The only issue beyond that I can think of is if the air near you has some sort of chemical in it (large scale pesticides in a nearby field, etc). I would have no idea how to test for such a thing though...