observation of python hose impact on water quality (leaching?)

[anewbie]

So.... i made a perhaps what should have been obvious discovery during today's water change.

My technique has a 40 foot python (brand) hose connected to a faucet that can reach all the aquariums in the room. For the first aquarium when i did the water change i took a cup of water and measured the ec and it was around 1100. At first i thought the ec meter was broken and i remasured and it was still 1100 and eventually it went down to 15 which is high but not unreasonable given the di stage is used up.
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What i think is happening is the water sitting in the tube over the week (I use it once a week for water changes) is leaching (what it is leaching i don't know but it probably isn't the best stuff for the fishes) and i should probably run the hose a minute before doing the first water change but perhaps someone has a better explanation.
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I thought about looking for a 3/4 inch food grade hose to replace it but i'm not sure that will be any better unless it is polyp and those can be quite pricey.

 

[MacZ]

I would rather presume there are bacteria films inside the hose, which produce different compounds. Never leave water standing in a hose.

 

[anewbie]

Never leave water standing in a hose.

Easier said than solved. Btw would that explain the high ec ?

 

[MacZ]

Yes. Back in the day when I kept Malawis we just used a garden hose the same way. We threw out 2 until somebody told us that leaving water in it is a bad idea. Then we used transparent silicon hoses so we could see if there was water left and it worked when we removed the water. At one point I did an experiment and left water in a shorter piece on purpose. Turned black within a week.

 

[anewbie]

Yes. Back in the day when I kept Malawis we just used a garden hose the same way. We threw out 2 until somebody told us that leaving water in it is a bad idea. Then we used transparent silicon hoses so we could see if there was water left and it worked when we removed the water. At one point I did an experiment and left water in a shorter piece on purpose. Turned black within a week.

It isn't turning black - but given the inside nature it would be a pain to remove the water between water changes. The water is after all ro water - tap water will turn the hose black even if it is empty (i.e, python used to drain tanks with short hose). Anyway easier to run the water for 30 seconds before filling the first tank than it is to drain it but the bigger question is it harmeful.

 

[MacZ]

I didn't mean the water turning, but the hose's inside surface.

The water is after all ro water - tap water will turn the hose black even if it is empty

You will be surprised, the humidity in the hose can be enough for bacteria to thrive. I have also seen whole RO units turn because bacteria made it inside.

 

[anewbie]

I didn't mean the water turning, but the hose's inside surface.


You will be surprised, the humidity in the hose can be enough for bacteria to thrive. I have also seen whole RO units turn because bacteria made it inside.

Yes i know what you mean - i have an old python i use for removing water from aquariums and the hose is solid black - well there is stuff on it - now and then it flakes off - i presume it is mold. Either way that doesn't matter since it is going down the drain with waste water.

However the hose i use with ro water has not turned black - it remains clear but the water in the tube is very high ec hence this post. I presume it was leaching off the plastic but you seem to imply the high ec is due to bacteria but either way the open questions is it harmful to the fishes.

 

[MacZ]

It's a no-brainer, it should not get into the tank, isn't it?

 

[anewbie]

It's a no-brainer, it should not get into the tank, isn't it?

Hum. I tend to not make assumptions - i might play it safe but i don't think i consider it a no brainer without knowing approx composition.

Btw it has been going into the tank for the past year - i just realize today when i measured the ec it was out of whack - so far no one has noticed - having said that now that i know about it. ...

 

[MacZ]

I consider it common sense that small standing bodies of water tend to turn quickly.

 

[Mazan]

Mm interesting, I just use a garden hosepipe but always empty the water from it as I roll it up and put it away. I never saw or used a python so don’t know if this would be difficult?

 

[anewbie]

Mm interesting, I just use a garden hosepipe but always empty the water from it as I roll it up and put it away. I never saw or used a python so don’t know if this would be difficult?

The problem is where to drain the water - i.e, removing the 40+ft hose and carry both ends up to somewhere to empty it. I'd have to carry it through the house to the exit to outside or upstairs to a bath-tub or something similar.

 

[Yvonne G]

Dedicate a large bucket or tub to that chore.

 

[anewbie]

I don't know - it still seems easier to just run the water for 30 seconds before i fill the first aquarium. I mean i realize i'd be wasting 1/2 a gallon or so but then i will be filling 150 gallon of aquariums.

 

[Mike Wise]

I've used Python hoses for over 40 years with no real problems other than getting old and stiff - and yes mildew inside. Python advertises that it only uses food grade hoses so that shouldn't cause a problem. I think that your problem is allowing water to remain in the hose after use. Pure water (in this case r/o water) is a "perfect solvent". Given time most compounds can dissolve in it. I always drain mine completely when done.

 

[Gamegurl]

What is "ec"?

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

What is "ec"?

Electrical conductivity, a measure of the electricity conducted by ions in solution in the water. The SI unit is the Siemen (S), but because it is a large amount we usually talk about values in "microS".

It is actually the parameter measured by "TDS" meters. As a rough conversion a TDS reading of 62 ppm is equivalent to 100 microS EC.

cheers Darrel

 

[klclayton]

So.... i made a perhaps what should have been obvious discovery during today's water change.

My technique has a 40 foot python (brand) hose connected to a faucet that can reach all the aquariums in the room. For the first aquarium when i did the water change i took a cup of water and measured the ec and it was around 1100. At first i thought the ec meter was broken and i remasured and it was still 1100 and eventually it went down to 15 which is high but not unreasonable given the di stage is used up.
--
What i think is happening is the water sitting in the tube over the week (I use it once a week for water changes) is leaching (what it is leaching i don't know but it probably isn't the best stuff for the fishes) and i should probably run the hose a minute before doing the first water change but perhaps someone has a better explanation.
-
I thought about looking for a 3/4 inch food grade hose to replace it but i'm not sure that will be any better unless it is polyp and those can be quite pricey.

So why would anyone ever leave water on the hose. I'm like Mike, in 30 years I've never even considered leaving water. Maybe between tanks.

 

[anewbie]

What is "ec"?

ele

So why would anyone ever leave water on the hose. I'm like Mike, in 30 years I've never even considered leaving water. Maybe between tanks.

I already explained that it is an indoor faucet with 40 foot hose (python). Removing it would be rather painful in addition the faucet is plastic (polyp) and i would worry about stripping the threads over regular removals. I can either add a small segment between the faucet and the hose and remove that - still annoying or run the faucet for 10 seconds before the first tank fill. If you want a simpler explanation i'm lazy. But i'm still willing to change the water in the 12 aquariums in the room

 

[Mike Wise]

Python makes a used to sell quick change adapter that you could keep on the faucet. There are also plastic adapters for hoses and faucets. Me? I have brass adapters and am careful.