I sometimes play an offset scenario in my thinking by saying to myself that by not bringing additional children into the world that I should get to use a bit more resource such as water. Even for myself this is pretty flaky and I still tend to be conservative with water and with most other things.
But if you remain childless for life then I do think this may well be the single thing an individual can do to reduce a personal impact on things such as water. All that water which is not being used for showers, laundry and material production of things for children that do not exist can be put into your tanks. Also you likely will still use less water in tanks than for even one child.
We will remain childless and I realize that this does have a positive effect on our personal impact. Like you though, I still can't help but look at all that we do to contribute to depletion of resources and add to the burden that our increasing population is pounding on the planet. I'm hopeful that some of these youngsters growing up with computers and technology will be able to create things that can help with this as time goes on. At least for future generations.
Instead of the gravel vac tube that came with the Python, I use a gravel vac with a squeeze bulb and connect the "out" end of the squeeze bulb to the long Python hose. Then you can run it to your garden, toilet, wherever. I don't feel too bad about using water to fill my aquariums (can't be as bad as the folks living in deserts trying to have green lawns for purely aesthetic purposes), but using running water to empty them seems silly.
Are you saying that you use the bulb to get it going and then attach it to the Python? I like the idea of collecting tank water in barrels and using that to water my outdoor plants... but am trying to think of the best way to do it... hauling buckets would get tedious I think.
In areas like you mentioned where you are now (high desert) I can see it being a bit more of a concern so something like some catch barrels to pump your WC's into to reuse for garden and such would probably be beneficial and make you feel better about using the amount of water.
This is what I'm thinking might be a good way to go. Just thinking about logistics and how to make it work from tank to barrels and barrels to the areas that need water.
As far as partial water changes, all my tanks (about 1000 gallons) were on sumps, so after closing a valve leading to the tanks, it opens a line and pumps water outside to the garden, very simple.
The PVC to the outside is mostly permanent, although gets disconnected in the dead of winter.
I've never done a sump but figured I would for a tank >100 gallons... so you take water out of your sump vs. actual tank which directly goes outside. I like this idea but I do live in a ranch home with no basement. So any tank I had would be in the main part of the house... so am trying to figure out how to make a system like this work without going through an outside wall. This isn't our "forever" home - we'll likely be here for 5 years or so and then move within the same area but into a different place.
Rain water would be another thing to consider. I know you said high desert so I'm not sure how viable that would be.
Have you looked into plant filtration, putting plants like pothos up top, & nitrate filters? Your going to need wc's of course, but maybe extend your intervals.
Rain water here is not a reliable resource, unfortunately. I used to live in Portland, OR and that would have been a different story.
Where I live now has an annual precip of 11 inches & snowfall of 23 inches.
I do love plants, have always used live in my tanks and am definitely interested in pothos and nitrate filters!
Old tank water is great for watering plants
Definitely - I use it now for houseplants with my small tank but am trying to figure out how to best do something like that for outdoor watering with a larger volume of water.
My tank water goes right out the window and into my garden.
I think come summer I might consider using 55gal barrels to hold water for watering plants. Then I could water more of my gardens with tank water. Right now I can only reach the plants along the sides of the house.
Yeah, this is what I'm leaning towards. When you do the out the window thing... do you use a pump of some kind to get it going?
When it's been dry for a while I just plug a hose from my FX5 into my irrigation system and let that water my plants. Otherwise fill up buckets and run around dumping them in trees in the orchard.
Can you go into a bit more detail as to how you do that?
Not a hippy question at all. Like pyru mentioned stocking is the key to conserving water. Id choose 1 cichlid and 2 or 3 bichirs going to be hard only sticking to 3 but your disciplined.
Also go for a sump adding water volume will help dilute the waste water.
When its warm out i use an old pump connected to pool filter hose and pump the water onto my front lawn.
You know that I like to have a balance of stock, not too bare but able to maintain low nitrates with once weekly water changes... so I do think that will be key.
Yeah, I think I'll end up going pump vs python maybe just to make it more efficient.
Plus your a crazy plant lady so im sure your tank wouldnt look bare. If you decide to plant it stay away from the herbivores. Id look into loisellei. Great looking fish and wont chomp on your plants
My plan would be far fewer plants in the substrate, some tougher ones like anubias tied to DW/rocks, but roots of pothos or others coming down into the water. So some plant nibbling would be OK as long as they weren't decimated.
Loisellei is on my list for sure, but Polleni is a fish I've been coveting for a long time, so it's likely one I'll go for. Supposed to have a great personality. Also African, kind of.
Not to start a debate but there is the theory that the water really doesnt get wasted. Evaporation/condensation rinse repeat.
Not sure that's true, Frank... But either way, anything we can do to help preserve the fresh water table certainly won't hurt.
If I can use tank water for my outdoor plants (and flushing toilets) I'll be a happy camper.
http://www.fao.org/docrep/u8480e/U8480E0c.htm
http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20170412-is-the-world-running-out-of-fresh-water
