Water changes using rain water

[Robert]

I have a 90l tank with clown loaches, botia striata and a YoYo loach. I live in a very hard water area and have been trying to reduce the PH to make the environment more suitable for the loaches. I tried using a buffer in tap water but ended up with calcium hardness forming all over the tank and plants. I have recently used rain water as it is softer and has a more nutral PH. I have not noticed any ill effects but I cannot find any discussion about using rain water so would appreciate any views.
Thanks

[connor]

Hello Robert,

do you use pure rain water or do you mix in some of the tap water?

-Connor

[Martin Thoene]

When I lived in England I had my own house and it had a corrugated plastic lean-to cover over the patio. This had guttering and a downpipe to a soakaway. I fitted a diverter into the downpipe hooked up to a 50 gallon plastic drum that used to hold detergent (yes it was VERY well washed).

Local water was very hard. Local fishkeepers called it "liquid rock"....great for Rift-Lake cichlids.
I did all water changes with rainwater cut with hot water from the tap to bring it up to temperature. Usually ended up about 60% rain, 40% tap. The fish did really well in it and as I lived in a relatively rural area there was no problems with any industrial air contaminants.

The determining factor in its safety is the surface it rolls off of into your catchment system. Old slate is safe as usually is old modern clay tiles. Any sort of tarred roofing medium could be a problem.

Martin.

[Robert]

Hi Connor
I have used pure rain water warming some in a pan to raise the temprature. I have done this for the last two weekly 25% water changes so there must be at least 50% tap water still in the tank.

Hi Martin
Thanks also for your advice I am getting the message that I should mix in some tap water to provide minerals. My area is also relatively rural and the roof is a 23 year old clay tile roof with water butts fitted to the down pipes so should be clean.

Robert

[connor]

Thanks also for your advice I am getting the message that I should mix in some tap water to provide minerals.

I suggest you get some of those 5-in-1 water test sticks and mix away until you find the right level.

-Connor

[Emma Turner]

Hi Robert,

I used to live down in Slough and had to buy RO water for my loach tank as the local water was so hard and alkaline.

It was a similar story when we moved up to Peterborough (the water is even slightly harder here, plus loaded with phosphates) so we bought our own RO unit as we have a lot of water to change. We remineralise it using Tropic Marin Remineral Freshwater powder.

Rainwater in principle is a great idea, but you have to be 100% sure it is free of contaminants.

Emma

[Mad Duff]

I would love to be able to use rain water but its a no go for me, we live within a mile of http://www.wiltoninternational.co.uk/ and the cr@p that comes down in the rain from this place is terrible. There have been times when it has rained and the cars look like they are covered in glitter but of course everyone has been assured that anything that comes out of the site is totally harmless even the smoke from one of Europe's biggest plastics fires was totally non toxic

[Robert]

Hi Thanks for the advice. I now feel more confident about what I am doing now.

Robert

[Bitey]

You'd be surprised at how far away from civlization you can find pollutants these days. I wouldn't risk it. Use an RO filter if you want softer water.