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is rainwater ideal for use in aquariums?

5K views 5 replies 4 participants last post by  fighttest 
#1 ·
i was wondering if rainwater would be idea for use in aquariums. specifically a planted aquarium. iv been thinking about this as a solution to reduce the amount of ground water that i use in the aquarium which is about 10 to 15 gallons per week and another befit i would enjoy is having water with a lower ph, currently its somewhere around 8.4. i figure it would get contaminated if its run off from the gutters on my roof which will have touched dead leafs, moss, chemicals from building material, bird poo etc. so im trying to find a way to collect it with out it touching the roof. also before seriously considering this i would be measuring the ph of the rain water that collects around my house for a period of time and contacting someone to find out if there is already a high level of pollutants in the rainwater. if anyone has information has to the likely hood of there being high pollutants in rainwater that is not acceptable for use in an aquarium please tell me and also if anyone has any idea how i would go about collecting the rainwater please share your ideas.
 
#2 ·
Not really an easy question to answer but I would say take a sample of your rainwater to your local lfs for testing prior to using it. Depending on where you live rainwater an be pretty nasty stuff due to polution.
 
#3 ·
You've accurately covered all the negatives with rainwater, and they are the problem. Nothing would be better in an aquarium that rainwater in a "clean" state; after all, the water in all the lakes, rivers, streams across the planet is rainwater. The parameters of the rainwater get altered by substances it runs over or through, thinking of minerals and such.

I know of aquarists who use a rainbarrel and filter the water, but these people live away from industrial areas and cities. Depending upon your area, you would have to be careful. Rainwater is naturally soft and acidic, but it's what it may pick up along the way that is the risk.

Byron.
 
#4 ·
i live in rural eastern shore Maryland. but i heard a theory on why it rains all the time here on weekends. apparently a theory is that winds push storm clouds across the country to the east coast and why the end of the week the clouds have picked up all the pollution and dirtiness across the country and finally has to drop it on us :(
 
#5 ·
Spent a few years in Brunswick maryland near Hagerstown. Some of the prettiest country I've seen. Spent many a day or evening, drifting down the Potomac to Point of Rocks Md. while fishing for channel cats. Also enjoyed visiting old civil war monuments. I still have friends there that I communicate with .:)
 
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