Rain water collect

[Jag586]

Thinking of getting a couple 55 gallon drums, one for outside collecting the rain, one inside, my plan is to use filters leading into outside drum to keep junk n bugs out, once filled, add maybe couple drops iodine, then another dencer filter hooked to hose leading to inside drum where id let stay over night to let temp regulate, then when ready for wc just pump it into tank, any problems? I could add the salt into inside drum along with sodium bicarb to increase alk,

200 gallon tank
Pair (breeding I hope) jag cichlids


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[knifegill]

Pretty sketchy. You're missing a whole lot more than just alkalinity. I could see maybe cutting it 50/50 with normal tap water to get a softer end product. But all the trace minerals (which potentially prevent hole-in-the-head, help endocrine function, etc.) would be gone if you were just using buffered rain water.

Jaguar cichlids are Central American, not South American. You'd want to give them harder water, not softer.

 

[anarekist]

depends on where you live. if you live in a more urban or industrial area i would not cause there would probably air pollutants in the water. but if you live out in the country far from any urban areas i think it would ok, but the pH of rain water is usually very low. about 2.0 to 5.6

 

[Jag586]

I live in mi, in a mid sized city no real industreal that is close, I was thinking, while the water sits and temp regulates n such I could add salts, raise the ph, etc.... Im just trying to save some cash

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[Jag586]

Thinking I could add some crushed coral to the first holding tank

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[knifegill]

Dechlorinator is cheaper than mineralizing.

 

[1chanc3]

Dechlorinator is cheaper than mineralizing.

+1.

Also, I don't see a lot more benefit of using rain water rather than tap. Diminishing returns.

 

[tonto95]

Adding a carbon filter between the two drums would help with any chemicals/contaminates in the rain water.

 

[tonto95]

Suggest using drums that only had food grade material in them. If they have had chemicals in them you would never get them out.

 

[duanes]

I collect rain in rubber barrels. Usually mix it with tap, but every once in a while, use it straight, and the straight rain water sometime spurs spawning. It did with my managuense.

If I wait too long to use it, it can get green, but then that provides food for fry, or brine shrimp. I also soak wood in the barrels for a while before adding it to tanks.