Question regarding water change

[CRUSHER]

Instead of actually replacing the water with new water, would it be ok or better maybe to just use a water purifier? pump the existing water through the purifier right back into the tank?... and of course put conditioner in during or after the recycle.

[wesleydnunder]

Nothing beats new, fresh water. You'd have to run the old water through an RO to remove unwanted by-products of the bioprocesses that go on in a healthy system. You'd have to remove nitrates, non-volatile acids and other DOCs. Why go through all that and wind up with most of that water rejected anyway? Much easier to replace with fresh, clean water.

Mark

[supadave]

Nothing beats new, fresh water. You'd have to run the old water through an RO to remove unwanted by-products of the bioprocesses that go on in a healthy system. You'd have to remove nitrates, non-volatile acids and other DOCs. Why go through all that and wind up with most of that water rejected anyway? Much easier to replace with fresh, clean water.

Mark

+1

I'm with.....wesleydnunder. Why go through all the extra work ? Keep it simple and easy and therefore this hobby won't become a chore .

[eklikewhoa]

To add to that you'd have to somehow make up for the minerals and nutrients lost somehow as well.

[CRUSHER]

To add to that you'd have to somehow make up for the minerals and nutrients lost somehow as well.

Minerals and nutrients pass right through my in-line filter... the only thing that don't are Chlorine and other harmful things...
check out my next thread on "Food for Thought"

[CRUSHER]

+1

I'm with.....wesleydnunder. Why go through all the extra work ? Keep it simple and easy and therefore this hobby won't become a chore .

RO systems actually remove everything... you will need to replace minerals and nutrients!

[eklikewhoa]

RO systems actually remove everything... you will need to replace minerals and nutrients!

Which is perfect for those that need more than ideal water conditions and don't mind "making" their own water.

[wesleydnunder]

RO systems actually remove everything... you will need to replace minerals and nutrients!

My point exactly. You'd NEED to remove all those things to make the water clean. Removal of the minerals would be a by-product of removing the things you definitely want to get rid of. As ek pointed out, you'd have to add back the minerals extracted by an RO. So, with this huge downside to re-using old water, why would you?

To quote an old aquarium keeper, Bill Wimmer, "The solution to pollution is dilution."

Mark

[CRUSHER]

recycling the old water was just a thought.... i always use new water, but i don't filter everything from the water... I leave the Natural minerals. If you want to make your own water then go for it, I will take the natural way.

[eklikewhoa]

Recycling water would require much more work then trying to make water with RO.

Also with more sensitive or demanding sp. You have no choice but to use RO. Water quality at your location would be a determining factor too.

[wesleydnunder]

recycling the old water was just a thought.... i always use new water, but i don't filter everything from the water... I leave the Natural minerals. If you want to make your own water then go for it, I will take the natural way.

You miss my point entirely. Your "filter" would do NOTHING toward making your used water adequate for reintroduction to your tank. The only way to make used water fresh enough to re-use is through RO, or RO/DI. These methods would remove the things from the used water that you NEED to have gone. Dumping the minerals is a by-product of those methods.
So, my original answer to your post stands... replace the old water with clean, fresh water and save yourself a lot of work and needless arguments.

Mark

[rage]

Instead of actually replacing the water with new water, would it be ok or better maybe to just use a water purifier? pump the existing water through the purifier right back into the tank?... and of course put conditioner in during or after the recycle.

This post and the post about RO water show that you've done some research but you are a little quick to jump to conclusion.

Water purifier, RO/ DI ... and others are meant to take out certain things in the water. It depends on what you want to take out and what you want to leave in. Sometimes a process may take out more than you want then you will need to put it back in. Sometimes a process does not take out everything you want to take out then you will need to use another mean.

With a water change you want to remove nitrate, waste and other harmful chemicals.
If you replace it with new tap water, the only other step you need is to remove the chlorine, chrloramine.
If you re-use the old tank water, you have to run it thru the water "purifier" which, depends on the kind, may or may not remove all the things you want to remove.

RO/ DI water is 100% pure, it is not meant to be used in fresh water tank. If you use it, you need to add other nutrients back in.

The main use for RO/ DI water is for salt water tank, people start with 100% pure water then add salt which contains all the nutrients the salt water fish and corals need.

[CRUSHER]

You miss my point entirely. Your "filter" would do NOTHING toward making your used water adequate for reintroduction to your tank. The only way to make used water fresh enough to re-use is through RO, or RO/DI. These methods would remove the things from the used water that you NEED to have gone. Dumping the minerals is a by-product of those methods.
So, my original answer to your post stands... replace the old water with clean, fresh water and save yourself a lot of work and needless arguments.

Mark

Mark,
recycling the old water WAS just a thought... you have convinced me that it would not be worth the trouble. The under sink filter i use is only to remove Chlorine and metals. but since my tap water already has ammonia in it, i use a quarter of what is supposed to be put in of ammonia remover. I'mnot trying to start any arguments,I just frustrated a bit when I get negativity... not saying you are being negative... you actually are very helpful and I do appreciate it!!!
I test my water once a week, change the water plus vacuuum one every other week. water is nice and clear and tests have been coming back negative... I just need to learn when to feed and when not to feed... they will take the food but then just chew it up and spit it out... annoying.... but if i toss in a couple of crawfish they go bananas and if the crawfish find a hiding spot the fish will basically camp out and wait or check on them every so often. i do keeep my live food in a seperate container for two weeks and make sure they eat good and show no signs of illness. in my mind I am doing everything as right as can be with my lack of knowledge. I do keep reptiles also and share their crickets and super worms with the fish... those are fed for two weeks also to get them fattened up and yummy.
ok... I'm done.
I do thank you for your knowledge and support in this time of need!
CRUSHER (Andy)

[wesleydnunder]

No worries, Andy. I just wanted to make sure you understood what I meant in my posts.

Mark

[CRUSHER]

I read somewhere that if you did use an RO system for a freshwater tank that you would have to add a small amount of tap water to replace what was removed... I can be impatient, not read everything, just what I want to read and do apologize for my ignorance and for being stubborn.

This post and the post about RO water show that you've done some research but you are a little quick to jump to conclusion.

Water purifier, RO/ DI ... and others are meant to take out certain things in the water. It depends on what you want to take out and what you want to leave in. Sometimes a process may take out more than you want then you will need to put it back in. Sometimes a process does not take out everything you want to take out then you will need to use another mean.

With a water change you want to remove nitrate, waste and other harmful chemicals.
If you replace it with new tap water, the only other step you need is to remove the chlorine, chrloramine.
If you re-use the old tank water, you have to run it thru the water "purifier" which, depends on the kind, may or may not remove all the things you want to remove.

RO/ DI water is 100% pure, it is not meant to be used in fresh water tank. If you use it, you need to add other nutrients back in.

The main use for RO/ DI water is for salt water tank, people start with 100% pure water then add salt which contains all the nutrients the salt water fish and corals need.