Degassing tap water quickly as I change water. Questions :)

[philipraposo1982]

Hi MFK,


I have been facing a problem since I moved in october. My tap water is saturated with condense gas which is release when enters the tank. It currently slight agitates my MT on occasion when I do a large water change. I would like to relieve this as much as possible.

Without going to the extreme of setting up a holding drum for water and aging it is there another way?

I been using a 5micron filter sock at the end of my fill hose which has some good effect but its not a solid enough solution to the problem.

I am thinking of buying an air pump and hooking up some air stones to run full blast when filling up the tank to really mix things up quickly to aid in off gassing super quick. Do you guys think this could work as a solution?

Small scale I have filled up a small mason jar and shook it up like crazy for less then a min and was able to almost fully degas it. So i am thinking the air stones with a good size pump could work.

If i go this route which kind of air pump and stones should I buy. I have never bought this type of stuff since being in the hobby not sure if there is some recommended products.

I would be removing the stones and unplugging the air pump when done so its not something I will be running on going.

Thanks in advance

 

[Woefulrelic]

Oddball has mentioned a degassing tower. I blast my water from above surface into the sump. The baffles help enough I don't see much reach the main tank.

 

[Drstrangelove]

Without going to the extreme of setting up a holding drum for water and aging it is there another way?

1) Use hotter water. According to Henry's Law (chemistry) water can hold more compressed (dissolved gasses) at low temperatures than high temperatures. Before starting to fill the tank turn the water on hot, not cold. Using cold water increases the dissolved CO2 content. As an approximation, water at 57F (cold tap water), holds nearly twice as much dissolved gas as 97F (warm water.)

2) Spray the water against a rough object like a rock or driftwood, or at least against the surface of the water, rather than letting the hose spray submerged directly into the tank water. The more turbulence you create, the faster the gasses will off gas.

3) Slow down the water change. The slower you go, the less gas will buildup in the water because it will have a longer time to off gas during the change.

4) Reduce the amount of water you change at one time. Less water, means less gas.

5) Add an appropriate spray attachment (like those for outdoor hoses) to the hose as you fill the tank to generate more turbulence as the water leaves the hose.

 

[Grinch]

I pre-mix. Water goes to a holding container where it's agitated and treated, then it goes to the tanks. It makes a world of difference IMO.

 

[philipraposo1982]

Yeah I used to use a 55g drum to do the same but my current living space is very small and the drum would take up alot of space.

The wife already agreed to a drum as a last resort if I can get something else to workout. She wants to paint it like something she seen on Pinterest.

 

[Grinch]

You could mix it elsewhere (e.g. garage) and pump it to the tank.

 

[duanes]

I always added my make up water to my sump first instead of directly to my tanks, and usually had it fall into a pot of stones. If you don't use sumps, non applicable of course.
My water in milwaukee was always super gas saturated, but in winter especially so, even mixed with hot. It came out of the tap around 40'F (sometimes lower) in Jan -Mar, but even in summer gas saturated.
On many of my effluent pipes to the tanks, I would add a venturi tube, which also churned the remaining micro-bubbles out.

 

[Wraithen]

If you are using a python you could keep the large attachment full of air. This would increase turbulence a lot as the water first leaves the constricted part and then has to re enter the water column at the bottom. This would of course require you to hold the python pretty much the entire time. You could also arch the water into the tank. Again, this would greatly increase turbulence as the new water hits the old.

If you want to go with airstones I'd go with a 4 or 5 gang and space them apart and run a 70 series on full blast. The problem is doing so may irritate your fish.

 

[philipraposo1982]

Here's what my solution for now. I live in a high-rise building inna smaller apartment with literally no storage.



I run this during and for a bit after I am done a water change. He seems very content with it. He even brushes up on the big mass of bubbles.

Doesn't seem like any harmful gas bubbles are irritating him. I believe they are being removed just as fast as the gas is expanding in the tank. Or hopefully quick enough to not cause any harm