Question about filtering Rain water

[AquariusPeter]

Good morning to all,

I maybe put link under this text, where discussion was about my High PO4 in a tap Water... I mentioned there about Blue Green Algae starting slowly take my tank over because Fluval stratum adsorbing them ...

A

Post in thread 'Fluval Bio - Stratum - Absorbing PO4 ?'

14 Oct 2024

Hi all,

That may be a nitrate, (NO3-), potassium (K), phosphate (PO4---), or magnesium (Mg) deficiency. Because they are <"all mobile nutrients"> within the plant you should get a pretty quick "greening" once you've added them.

Honestly I would just look a the plants, they can't lie of mislead, if you like, they are your test kit.

This is what I am trying to learn, but I have a lack of experience that is why I have lots of doubts and questions. So according to the visual tissue assessment below:

On below I will add some photos of my plants...

• AquariusPeter

Unfortunately situation is getting worse and my tank is slowly eaten by cyanobacteria....

And because now spring time is coming. I just installed the water butt to collecting rain water from the roof of my house.

For the moment I am just thinking how could filter this water without using any electric pump or filters because on the outside I don't have an acces to any socket...

I was thinking about filtering this water by any plastic container filled by sponge then carbon activated and on the last stage would be a filter floss...

I am only thinking about project- how to do it to make filter rain water by gravity ....

I thought maybe you all could give me any ideas or maybe some photos about your systems?

I took water sample after first rain and did some tests.

TDS = 45
KH=2
GH=3
PO4=0
NO3=10-20 (as propably birds poop on the roof)

I was thinking I could mineralize this water by my tap water or buy minerals... to mineralize it.

What do you all think about this solution?

Thanks

Pete

 

[tam]

What are you hoping to filter out?

I don't filter mine. If you want to, then put a container above the water butt, deposit the rain outflow into that and then that into the water butt. Or you could run a small internal on the water after you've removed it from the water butt to put in your tank (I'm presuming there is a bucket involved rather than direct feed).

 

[G H Nelson]

I was thinking I could mineralize this water by my tap water.

That's what I do with RO water.
75% RO 25% Tapwater.

 

[G H Nelson]

 

[AquariusPeter]

Hi all,

What are you hoping to filter out?

I don't filter mine. If you want to, then put a container above the water butt, deposit the rain outflow into that and then that into the water butt. Or you could run a small internal on the water after you've removed it from the water butt to put in your tank (I'm presuming there is a bucket involved rather than direct feed)

This is simple standard water butt from B&Q.

I am thinking if it would be alright to filter water from this butt if I just put plastic jug(to measure water), with drilled little wholes on its base/bottom... then when I open that bottom butt tap water will go through that plastic jug filled with water floss and activated carbon.

And I could use only then, when I would be filling my buckets day before WC.

Or I could find some mesh and put it onto top inlet pipe of this water butt and use some plastic cable clamps to make better hold.

What I am hoping to filter out is any debris, maybe any detritus by activated carbon? Any bugs ?

Well the water butt has the lid and i have it covered but is not perfectly closed and separated from the outside.

I have been thinking about to maybe buy piece of gutter and put it inside to water butt connect it to rain water inlet pipe. And filling the gut with some filter floss and activated carbon... then water could go all the way down over the media inside the gutter and then come back clear in water butt.... I don't know what idea could be better???

Thank you all for help,

Kind Regards

Pete

 

[hypnogogia]

What I am hoping to filter out is any debris, maybe any detritus by activated carbon? Any bugs

Don’t think that will be necessary.

 

[Maf 2500]

You can get a Gutter Mate which will catch any large debris such as moss, leaves, blossom and berries. I get a lot of moss going into my water butts so am going to use these when I rejig my water storage. UK company and invention, seem to have a good rep.

As has been mentioned above the water should be clean enough straight out of the water butt - as long as you clean it out once or twice a year you are not going to get enough organic material accumulating to cause any problems.

 

[Aqua sobriquet]

I empty my water butt and clean it out once a year. The gutter from the shed that feeds it also gets a good clean. The top of the water butt is sealed so that bugs can’t get in and the downpipe has a coarse filter foam where it joins the gutter. I still filter the water though. I run it through three sheets of plenty kitchen towel a couple of times. I have a container with a plug that has a small hole in it so once filled I just leave it running through the paper towel into a container.

 

[AquariusPeter]

Hi all,

You can get a Gutter Mate which will catch any large debris such as moss, leaves, blossom and berries. I get a lot of moss going into my water butts so am going to use these when I rejig my water storage. UK company and invention, seem to have a good rep.

As has been mentioned above the water should be clean enough straight out of the water butt - as long as you clean it out once or twice a year you are not going to get enough organic material accumulating to cause any problems.

Ward Water Butt Filler Black (One Size) ----> I have already used this set with my water butt.

If I knew about Gutter Mate before I wouldn't have bought it my above.

Yes but anyway, as you guys mentioned I will be cleaning my water once or two times a year. On the top lid I am thinking to put on simple black bag just to cover the holes.

And I will try to extend inlet pipe inside of the water butt and I will put on it some sponge. In additional filtration I could still use that jug with holes on bottom filled with filter floss and activated carbon.

Thank You all

Kind Regards

Pete

 

[tam]

You should cover it enough that wildlife e.g. birds can't fall in. You may get mosquito larvae if you have small gaps/water near top though and the fish will thank you for the snacks. I also think having airflow is good. Taps are usually at least a couple of inches up and any detritus will settle out and not be an issue as long as you don't use the water mid heavy rain. I had my down pipe discharging straight into the waterbutt then overflowing toward a drain until last week (finally got around to buying a diverter) and that didn't create any issues other than once mid summer when the water was very low and it was very hot and it got stinky - but you could tell it was no good as soon as you drew some water and my fault for not cleaning out the leaves etc. from winter.

 

[AquariusPeter]

Hi all,

I will try do something small just pre-filter this water additionaly.

How is about any metals ? or any pesticides or may be other substances ? Can they appear in rainwater collected from the roof ? Is it any risk about to use it for planted tanks purpose?

I was thinking maybe just to use activated carbon like a pre-filtration ?

Thank you all,

Best Regards

Pete

 

[Aquarius1971]

Good morning to all,

I maybe put link under this text, where discussion was about my High PO4 in a tap Water... I mentioned there about Blue Green Algae starting slowly take my tank over because Fluval stratum adsorbing them ...

A

Post in thread 'Fluval Bio - Stratum - Absorbing PO4 ?'

14 Oct 2024

Hi all,

That may be a nitrate, (NO3-), potassium (K), phosphate (PO4---), or magnesium (Mg) deficiency. Because they are <"all mobile nutrients"> within the plant you should get a pretty quick "greening" once you've added them.

Honestly I would just look a the plants, they can't lie of mislead, if you like, they are your test kit.

This is what I am trying to learn, but I have a lack of experience that is why I have lots of doubts and questions. So according to the visual tissue assessment below:

On below I will add some photos of my plants...

• AquariusPeter

Unfortunately situation is getting worse and my tank is slowly eaten by cyanobacteria....

And because now spring time is coming. I just installed the water butt to collecting rain water from the roof of my house.

For the moment I am just thinking how could filter this water without using any electric pump or filters because on the outside I don't have an acces to any socket...

I was thinking about filtering this water by any plastic container filled by sponge then carbon activated and on the last stage would be a filter floss...

I am only thinking about project- how to do it to make filter rain water by gravity ....

I thought maybe you all could give me any ideas or maybe some photos about your systems?

I took water sample after first rain and did some tests.

TDS = 45
KH=2
GH=3
PO4=0
NO3=10-20 (as propably birds poop on the roof)

I was thinking I could mineralize this water by my tap water or buy minerals... to mineralize it.

What do you all think about this solution?

Thanks

Pete

Maybe just use a hob in a Rubbermaid tub?

 

[simon_the_plant_nerd]

How is about any metals ? or any pesticides or may be other substances ? Can they appear in rainwater collected from the roof ?

Rainwater is pretty good at cleaning pollutants from the air through scavenging and readily absorbs gases like CO2, SOx, NOx and VOCs. Particulates like microplastics, soot, heavy metals. And persistent pollutants like perfluoroalkyls. If you live anywhere, it’s guaranteed there’s something in that rainwater that is undesirable. That’s just the reality of our industrialised world. It’s clearly going to be worse if you live near a stack from a coal fired plant but this is a trans boundary issue that affects the whole world so regardless, there will be something in there.

I don’t have any advice on how you should treat it or if you should treat it at all. Anecdotally, I collect rainwater in standing buckets and an open water butt and put it in my shrimp tank. I don’t filter it other than a net above the containers to keep the large crap out. I’ve been doing it for a year with no problems but that’s not really a very long time to do any sort of meaningful experiment.

 

[hypnogogia]

I’ve been doing it for a year with no problems but that’s not really a very long time to do any sort of meaningful experiment.

I’ve been using rainwater for about 6 years now with no ill effects that I can see.

 

[Aqua sobriquet]

The type of roof from which the rainwater is collected could have an effect. I’m collecting mine from a rubber shed roof. It’s the type of rubber often used as a pond liner. The other option is a fairly dirty, moss covered concrete tile roof. I was not that keen on using the latter so although it has a water butt from the gutter it’s only used for garden plants.

 

[tam]

Polyfilter would be another option? They are relatively expensive though and not rechargable. Although, I would imagine relatively long lasting in rainwater?

It may reassure you that ponds are also full of rainwater and the particulates that blow about on the wind and the frogs, fish etc. survive them? If you live somewhere with poor air quality then it would be a concern, for most people I think it's probably no more of an issue than what's on your skin or floating around your home landing in the top of the tank.

 

[Aquarius1971]

Rainwater is pretty good at cleaning pollutants from the air through scavenging and readily absorbs gases like CO2, SOx, NOx and VOCs. Particulates like microplastics, soot, heavy metals. And persistent pollutants like perfluoroalkyls. If you live anywhere, it’s guaranteed there’s something in that rainwater that is undesirable. That’s just the reality of our industrialised world. It’s clearly going to be worse if you live near a stack from a coal fired plant but this is a trans boundary issue that affects the whole world so regardless, there will be something in there.

I don’t have any advice on how you should treat it or if you should treat it at all. Anecdotally, I collect rainwater in standing buckets and an open water butt and put it in my shrimp tank. I don’t filter it other than a net above the containers to keep the large crap out. I’ve been doing it for a year with no problems but that’s not really a very long time to do any sort of meaningful experiment.

That’s how I do it😆 Tubs under the eve spouts and a net when poured. I have worked at a trees, shrubs and perennials nursery for a number of years. My boss always says, “Hand-watering from the spigot maintains. Rain makes things grow.”😊

 

[AquariusPeter]

Good morning to all,

Rainwater is pretty good at cleaning pollutants from the air through scavenging and readily absorbs gases like CO2, SOx, NOx and VOCs. Particulates like microplastics, soot, heavy metals. And persistent pollutants like perfluoroalkyls. If you live anywhere, it’s guaranteed there’s something in that rainwater that is undesirable. That’s just the reality of our industrialised world. It’s clearly going to be worse if you live near a stack from a coal fired plant but this is a trans boundary issue that affects the whole world so regardless, there will be something in there.

I don’t have any advice on how you should treat it or if you should treat it at all. Anecdotally, I collect rainwater in standing buckets and an open water butt and put it in my shrimp tank. I don’t filter it other than a net above the containers to keep the large crap out. I’ve been doing it for a year with no problems but that’s not really a very long time to do any sort of meaningful experiment.

I am living in relatively small town. Population is about 22-23k and it is considered as a town.
We don't have to many industrial zones.
Around this town there is plenty farm fields.
About 8-9 miles away in West Burton(under Gainsborough) there is power plant. I don't know if they still using coal as few years ago I have red some article that is going to be remade for Nuclear Power Plant. They using gas as well.

The only question is - from what materials is my roof ?

Considering the house is not old I was built in 2019 so I guess the roof is not from sth what could be really bad for health...

Maybe just use a hob in a Rubbermaid tub?

That’s how I do it😆 Tubs under the eve spouts and a net when poured. I have worked at a trees, shrubs and perennials nursery for a number of years. My boss always says, “Hand-watering from the spigot maintains. Rain makes things grow.”😊

Do you maybe have any photos or link how it works and how it looks?

Thank you all ,


Kind Regards

Pete

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

Unfortunately situation is getting worse and my tank is slowly eaten by cyanobacteria....

Cyanobacteria can grow very quickly, but I'm still not convinced that it is a <"phosphate (PO4---) issue">.

And because now spring time is coming. I just installed the water butt to collecting rain water from the roof of my house.

Good idea, I've used rainwater since the 1970s <"without any disasters">, I'd consider it a <"safer long term option"> than <"tap water">.

Rainwater is pretty good at cleaning pollutants from the air through scavenging and readily absorbs gases like CO2, SOx, NOx and VOCs. Particulates like microplastics, soot, heavy metals. And persistent pollutants like perfluoroalkyls. If you live anywhere, it’s guaranteed there’s something in that rainwater that is undesirable. That’s just the reality of our industrialised world. It’s clearly going to be worse if you live near a stack from a coal fired plant but this is a trans boundary issue that affects the whole world so regardless, there will be something in there.

Agreed, I don't suggest drinking it. <"Water butt water has ammonia and nitrite">.

I don't filter mine, but I live somewhere fairly rural, and our rainwater has <"some carbonate buffering">, allowing me to use the <"Daphnia bioassay">.

A lot of serious aquarists still use rainwater <"Corydoras in hard water...">.

cheers Darrel

 

[AquariusPeter]

Hi all,

I created that kind of sponge like a prefilter from the roof. It's purpose just to collect any bigger debris.

I don't if that will be alright. Let me know what you think about that?

Thank you all

Kind Regards

Pete