topping up evaporated water: which chemicals can build up? - Aquarium Advice

Bubble_B0y · 09-25-2005, 04:56 PM

Besides nitrate, I was wondering..

is there any other chemicals in the water that can become toxic over time?

Jchillin · 09-25-2005, 05:13 PM

Just a little confused about the title and the queation in your post.

Topping off evaported water will not add ammonia, nitrite or nitrate. Depending on how much water you are replacing, you can add dechlorinator to avoid build up of chlorine/chloramines.

Tiffi · 09-25-2005, 05:18 PM

I think he meant not actually changing water, but just add the amount of evaporated water back into the tank. So not taking any old water out.

Bubble_B0y · 09-25-2005, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tiffi

I think he meant not actually changing water, but just add the amount of evaporated water back into the tank. So not taking any old water out.

yepp
what she said

**Zagz** · 09-25-2005, 05:24 PM

[acronym:baf8b09363="Laughing out loud"]LOL[/acronym:baf8b09363], my water never has time to evaporate, I do too many [acronym:baf8b09363="Partial water change"]pwc[/acronym:baf8b09363]'s for any substantial water to be added. But I do keep some treated water in a 5 [acronym:baf8b09363="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:baf8b09363] pail so if I do need to top off every I have treated water ready. [acronym:baf8b09363="Hope this helps (or) Happy to help"]HTH[/acronym:baf8b09363].

Tiffi · 09-25-2005, 05:27 PM

You probably have canopy though, I have an open tank at this time, since my light fixture gave up on me (after 1 hour! $^&##!).
So right now I have quite a bit of evaporating water too.

**Zagz** · 09-25-2005, 05:30 PM

One of my tanks has a canopy but none of my tanks have open tops. I have 6 cats! Open top tanks would be a fishing hayday for the cats!

Jchillin · 09-25-2005, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jchillin

Just a little confused about the title and the queation in your post.

Topping off evaported water will not add ammonia, nitrite or nitrate. Depending on how much water you are replacing, you can add dechlorinator to avoid build up of chlorine/chloramines.

That's what I said as well.

TomK2 · 09-25-2005, 07:01 PM

products of decay will accumulate in the tank. Not all substances end up as water, co2, or ammonia. Buffers will be depleted, as nitrification and decay are acidic processes. Various organic compounds will accumulate, often referred to as [acronym:4a74722186="Dissolved Organic Compounds"]DOC[/acronym:4a74722186] for dissolved organic compounds. How much, and how significant they will be is hard to tell, and It would likely take months of no water changes or gravel vacs to see an obvious sign. Unfortunately, that obvious sign could be a pH crash or rash of ill health in your fish.

As for what the exact chemicals are, I can not say.

09-25-2005, 11:13 PM

mostly if you just top off water and dont do water changes, you have a buildup of nitrates, not ammonia or nitrite. You can also get "old tank syndrome" which is a buildup of not only the nitrates, but old dechlor chemicals and stuff that you just keep adding

09-25-2005, 04:56 PM	#1
Bubble_B0y Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Sydney Posts: 762	topping up evaporated water: which chemicals can build up? Besides nitrate, I was wondering.. is there any other chemicals in the water that can become toxic over time?

09-25-2005, 05:13 PM	#2
Jchillin Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: New York, NY (The Big Apple) Posts: 12,976 Images: 47	Just a little confused about the title and the queation in your post. Topping off evaported water will not add ammonia, nitrite or nitrate. Depending on how much water you are replacing, you can add dechlorinator to avoid build up of chlorine/chloramines. __________________ _________________________________

09-25-2005, 05:18 PM	#3
Tiffi Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: first ST-Germany, now TN-USA Posts: 1,052 Images: 19	I think he meant not actually changing water, but just add the amount of evaporated water back into the tank. So not taking any old water out. __________________ Some time ago in Germany: 2x 15gal tank, 45gal heavily planted Now: 70gal FW, 130W CF, driftwood, black gravel/laterite/flourish tabs/pool filter sand, pressurised CO2, power reactor, 200W = 250W heater, Fluval 304, Eheim prefilter; pH 7, kH 5, gH 9, CO2 ~20mg/l Plants: Cryptocoryne beckettii, wendtii "red", Giant Vals, Nymphaea lotus "zenkeri", Anubias nana "petite", Echinodorus "ozelot", Dwarf Sag, Hygrophila polysperma, Rotala rotundifolia, Limnophila sessiliflora Fishes: 2 Mikrogeophagus ramirezi, Endlers, 4 Otocinclus vittatus, 1pair Pelvicachromis pulcher, 5 Corydoras panda

09-25-2005, 05:27 PM	#6
Tiffi Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: first ST-Germany, now TN-USA Posts: 1,052 Images: 19	You probably have canopy though, I have an open tank at this time, since my light fixture gave up on me (after 1 hour! $^&##!). So right now I have quite a bit of evaporating water too. __________________ Some time ago in Germany: 2x 15gal tank, 45gal heavily planted Now: 70gal FW, 130W CF, driftwood, black gravel/laterite/flourish tabs/pool filter sand, pressurised CO2, power reactor, 200W = 250W heater, Fluval 304, Eheim prefilter; pH 7, kH 5, gH 9, CO2 ~20mg/l Plants: Cryptocoryne beckettii, wendtii "red", Giant Vals, Nymphaea lotus "zenkeri", Anubias nana "petite", Echinodorus "ozelot", Dwarf Sag, Hygrophila polysperma, Rotala rotundifolia, Limnophila sessiliflora Fishes: 2 Mikrogeophagus ramirezi, Endlers, 4 Otocinclus vittatus, 1pair Pelvicachromis pulcher, 5 Corydoras panda

09-25-2005, 07:01 PM	#9
TomK2 Aquarium Advice Addict Community Mentor Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Glen Ellyn, IL Posts: 1,953 Images: 2	products of decay will accumulate in the tank. Not all substances end up as water, co2, or ammonia. Buffers will be depleted, as nitrification and decay are acidic processes. Various organic compounds will accumulate, often referred to as [acronym:4a74722186="Dissolved Organic Compounds"]DOC[/acronym:4a74722186] for dissolved organic compounds. How much, and how significant they will be is hard to tell, and It would likely take months of no water changes or gravel vacs to see an obvious sign. Unfortunately, that obvious sign could be a pH crash or rash of ill health in your fish. As for what the exact chemicals are, I can not say. __________________ Tom's Tank - The web's best (only?) Motorcycling, trap shootin', aquarium site - IS BACK! With a new url. Oceanic 55+,two Fluval 404's,In-line 300W heater,Moderately planted with Polyvinylus Chloridus sp.=the only plants that last in my tank

09-25-2005, 11:13 PM	#10
Guest Posts: n/a	mostly if you just top off water and dont do water changes, you have a buildup of nitrates, not ammonia or nitrite. You can also get "old tank syndrome" which is a buildup of not only the nitrates, but old dechlor chemicals and stuff that you just keep adding

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