So.......here it is, I was installing a gas tankless water heater for my 550 gal and it works great except.......I was excited to try it out and I had not pick up the pex potable water pipe I was going to use for a supply and return line. I had a few garden hoses in the garage so I stetched them out for a function test of the heating system, It worked so good I thought I 'd leave it like that over night to see what the high/low temps would be ( 84.3/83.4) . When the lights came on in the morning 
my gaw dropped as the the warm water return had cooked some nasties ( unknown chemicals) out of the hose and it was stripping the slim coat off of the aros and irritating the hell out of them. I switched back to electric heat and removed the hose and installed the pex pipe I should have in the first place. I feel so terrible.....my poor aro's.....they are now getting melifix and salt to help their poor scales. I think I'm going the get some aloe vera too. So this is a huge reminder to never use garden hose in aquarium plumbing even for just a night. Thankfully I won't be lossing any fish, but I sure feel like a bad fish keeper.
Started researching.......
I knew there was some concern about the chemicals but I never had a problem until now. After my experience the other day my fish showed me how dangerous a garden hose can be - so I did a little research and this is what I found. If the hose is flushed well and then used its probably safe however most garden hoses are full of lead, biocides, phthalate plasticiscers - softners, carbon black pigment, not to mention chlorides in the plastic and uv stabilizers( controlled chemicals). When water is aloud is sit in a hose for a given periiod of time these chemicals can leach out and hot conditions will speed this up making the water in the hose very dangerous. Heres a little vid about the lead content:
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Consumer/S...3369894&page=1
Garden Hoses and other PVC products
Symptoms: General confusion, erratic swimming, spinning or resting upside down, redness of gills and gasping (not at the surface). Possible secondary bacterial infections.
Cause(s): PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride), the plastic from which garden hoses and many other plastic products are made of, is well known to carry a plethora of toxic elements and chemicals. A small list of known PVC contaminants includes Lead, Cadmium, Chlorine, Dioxin, Phthalates, and Phenols. Fungicides are also often added for obvious reasons. Alone, each substance is dangerous enough, but when combined, they can form even more toxic substances. Garden hoses rank as one of the most dangerous PVC products, due both to fabrication methods, and to the fact that the softer plastic more readily releases its' components into the water. As well, any water left in the hose when not in use will saturate with the chemicals (as well as develop noxious bacteria!).
Be aware that there are a number of different kinds of plastic, PVC being only one. For the modern aquarist, plastics are must, and many products can be safely used, such as decorations, filters, containers and buckets for water changes, etc. A general rule that could be followed is if a plastic can bend easily, and gives off a "plastic" smell, it should not be used.
Course Of Action: Transfer all fish to a tank filled with uncontaminated water, otherwise perform a large water change. Addition/replacement of activated charcoal may be of help. Large daily water changes should be performed for at least a week. Vaccuming the gravel may also be of some small benefit in removing any built up traces of the toxin. Collect and remove as much algae as possible, and remove plants. These may have accumulated the toxins within them which they would eventually leach back out.
my gaw dropped as the the warm water return had cooked some nasties ( unknown chemicals) out of the hose and it was stripping the slim coat off of the aros and irritating the hell out of them. I switched back to electric heat and removed the hose and installed the pex pipe I should have in the first place. I feel so terrible.....my poor aro's.....they are now getting melifix and salt to help their poor scales. I think I'm going the get some aloe vera too. So this is a huge reminder to never use garden hose in aquarium plumbing even for just a night. Thankfully I won't be lossing any fish, but I sure feel like a bad fish keeper.Started researching.......
I knew there was some concern about the chemicals but I never had a problem until now. After my experience the other day my fish showed me how dangerous a garden hose can be - so I did a little research and this is what I found. If the hose is flushed well and then used its probably safe however most garden hoses are full of lead, biocides, phthalate plasticiscers - softners, carbon black pigment, not to mention chlorides in the plastic and uv stabilizers( controlled chemicals). When water is aloud is sit in a hose for a given periiod of time these chemicals can leach out and hot conditions will speed this up making the water in the hose very dangerous. Heres a little vid about the lead content:
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Consumer/S...3369894&page=1
Garden Hoses and other PVC products
Symptoms: General confusion, erratic swimming, spinning or resting upside down, redness of gills and gasping (not at the surface). Possible secondary bacterial infections.
Cause(s): PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride), the plastic from which garden hoses and many other plastic products are made of, is well known to carry a plethora of toxic elements and chemicals. A small list of known PVC contaminants includes Lead, Cadmium, Chlorine, Dioxin, Phthalates, and Phenols. Fungicides are also often added for obvious reasons. Alone, each substance is dangerous enough, but when combined, they can form even more toxic substances. Garden hoses rank as one of the most dangerous PVC products, due both to fabrication methods, and to the fact that the softer plastic more readily releases its' components into the water. As well, any water left in the hose when not in use will saturate with the chemicals (as well as develop noxious bacteria!).
Be aware that there are a number of different kinds of plastic, PVC being only one. For the modern aquarist, plastics are must, and many products can be safely used, such as decorations, filters, containers and buckets for water changes, etc. A general rule that could be followed is if a plastic can bend easily, and gives off a "plastic" smell, it should not be used.
Course Of Action: Transfer all fish to a tank filled with uncontaminated water, otherwise perform a large water change. Addition/replacement of activated charcoal may be of help. Large daily water changes should be performed for at least a week. Vaccuming the gravel may also be of some small benefit in removing any built up traces of the toxin. Collect and remove as much algae as possible, and remove plants. These may have accumulated the toxins within them which they would eventually leach back out.
