Hello; Water for tanks during drought

[skjl47]

Hello; My area is in a drought. We have had some dry periods before but I think this is the most severe in my lifetime. This thread is not about the cause of the drought and is not about the fires in the mountains.

So far I still have tap water. Aside from some water main breaks apparently due to the dry soil moving around. Water has been off twice for a part of a day so far.

My thread is about water use practices for my tanks. I guess some have had to deal with drought conditions in other parts of the world and the USA. There may be practices that help maintain healthy tanks and use less water.

This is where I am starting from.
I have three tanks running right now with four empty.
I have very light stocking density.
My tanks have at least partial covers, say 80% to 90%.
I am lucky in that my water company uses only chlorine to treat the tap water which allows me to store the water in containers for my water changes. I generally have enough for at least one and a half WC on hand.

To those of you who have dealt with scarce water availability, what pointers can you give me?

 

[Fish Tank Travis]

I would get some powerheads and put them into your spare tanks and fill them up. Also, any containers that you can do the same with.

As far as your fish, definitely cut down feeding so you can stretch out your water changes as much as possible.

Lastly, try to have some sort of mobile water transport ability, so that you can get water from somewhere else and bring it back to your tanks.

 

[Warborg]

Possibly, combining tanks. The problem with that is it may increase WC on that tank. But as said...reduce feeding for sure.

I'd also reduce temp some so there is less evaporation.

 

[Deadliestviper7]

Adding a lid can help reduce evaporation,also store water in containers in emergencies,and last:when u make a water change use it to water any plants u may have.

 

[Yuki Rihwa]

If you have sump or refugium load up with pothos or any semi submerge plants to suck up nitrate out of your water, you don't have to do water change as often, just partial WC to replace minerals.

 

[skjl47]

I would get some powerheads and put them into your spare tanks and fill them up. Also, any containers that you can do the same with.

As far as your fish, definitely cut down feeding so you can stretch out your water changes as much as possible.

Lastly, try to have some sort of mobile water transport ability, so that you can get water from somewhere else and bring it back to your tanks.

hello; Good suggestions. I do have two clean spare tanks in a handy place to fill. I will cut down on feeding. I have a pickup truck and can buy some five gallon water jugs.

Possibly, combining tanks. The problem with that is it may increase WC on that tank. But as said...reduce feeding for sure.

I'd also reduce temp some so there is less evaporation

Hello; I can get down to two tanks. Reducing temp is also possible as I now have it a around 80F. Thanks for these good ideas.

Adding a lid can help reduce evaporation

store water in containers

a water change use it to water any plants u may have.

hello; Back to my DIY skills. I can make more covers to fill the gaps. I already have several containers and may add more or fill empty tanks as suggested above. I do have one house plant.

with pothos or any semi submerge plants to suck up nitrate out of your water

Hello; All three tanks have live plants in them now. The pothos is something I need to consider.

Hello; Thanks for the suggestions and the quick responses. Some good ideas.

 

[Lady Sphinx]

You can reuse water from a water change if you add plants to the water you removed from your tanks if you can find a good fish vitamin liquid to replenish vitamins and minerals.

 

[skjl47]

can reuse water from a water change if you add plants to the water you removed from your tanks if you can find a good fish vitamin liquid

hello; I have been trying to think of ways to reuse old tank water. Do you intend to reuse the old water back into a tank with fish or use it in some other way?

I already have live rooted plants in all my tanks. I may pick up some faster growing free floating plants next time I am in Knoxville TN
.
I can use the old tank water form my one house plant and some creeping pholx (sp) outside.

I thought about using it to flush the toilet but as I have a septic system, this may not be wise.

Thanks

 

[Yuki Rihwa]

hello; I have been trying to think of ways to reuse old tank water. Do you intend to reuse the old water back into a tank with fish or use it in some other way?

If you have a big storage water bin you can storage the old water and let the plants do it job but you have to add minerals back in water before add the water back in your aquarium. The plants will used up everything in the old water so your old water pretty much like RO water. If you go this way then better have 2 bins and try to create a close circulation system so the water do not stand still.

 

[Lady Sphinx]

hello; I have been trying to think of ways to reuse old tank water. Do you intend to reuse the old water back into a tank with fish or use it in some other way?

The water will be reused as the plants will remove all nitrates in time. This idea works on the aquaponics system were fish water is use to feed plants and plants remove fish waste from water. If you use enough plants this should work. But that's why I suggest adding some fish vitamins to the old water. Wortthorn (sp) is a massive nitrates/ammonia remover and grows best as a floating plant.

I thought about using it to flush the toilet but as I have a septic system, this may not be wise.

Our house also work on a septic tank and we have never had any issues with our drain. But I prefer to water my plants with it as the wc water is filled with nutrients for the plants.

I also use my wc water to wash the tile floors in our house since I add a disinfectant to the water before I wash the floors. Funny enough plants love soapy water and helps fight pests( especially plant lice) and disease in plants so you could first wash your floor and then water your plants.