Habitat - Indoor :: garden hose water

[str1p]

i read somewhere today that your not supposed to fill aquariums with water from a garden hose because it can leach heavy metals and other chemicals. any one know if this is true or not? Do any of you use a garden hose? i really dont want to carry 90 gallons of water from upstairs

[gwennie]

If you use a water conditioner/dechlorinator that also treats for heavy metals, such as AquaPlus, I don't see why you wouldn't be able to use a garden hose, but other folks here might have more information on this for you.

[steve]

Might it be an issue of the quality of the garden hose? I haven't researched that, but you generally want to avoid using hot or warm water from your boiler (just like you're not supposed to drink/cook with hot water from the tap). Older pipes (specifically their solder) will leach more lead with hot water and there's probably loads of impurities collected in your hot water heater.

Anyway, pick up a Python! It'll help you drain and refill your tank with it's hoses and attachments.

[CB]

not sure exactly when but most states no longer allow the use of lead based solder. the water coming out of your hose is the same water coming out of your sink, it's all potable. older homes with lead water mains or the galvanized piping could be an issue however newer homes or homes with updated plumbing i wouldn't worry about.
cb

[adam85491]

I used a hose before and treated it with ReptiSafe or something similar to that. No issues here.

[marisa]

I know it's not recommended to drink from run-of-the-mill garden hoses (it's what the hose is made of that's the issue, and if you try it, there's usually a faint rubbery smell and taste), so being the particular person that I am, all hoses that are used with my turts are labeled drinking water safe. I have four 25' hoses and configure them to the length that's needed, either for outdoors or inside.

Some people do use regular hoses, however---running water through the hose for half a minute or so before adding water to the tank should help, or so I've been told. It's up to you.

[papoopeepoo]

marisa is right. it should be printed on the hose packaging that it is safe to drink the water through that hose.

[zoologist]

i filled torti's 50 gallon with hose water and she was fine. i let the water run through the hose for a good minute or so to release any thing icky inside the hose and i treated the water with a dechlorinate and let it sit over night before putting torti in the tank and she's had no problem

[Linus]

The water from the hose is the same as the water from the faucet.

[BullDog]

I've heard this recently too on a fish forum. I think it has something to do with the rubber in the hose breaking down.

I use a garden hose for filling up my tanks. I sort of stole it from outside, and now it's used exclusively for the turts. I've never had any problems with it.

[Chrisbarnett]

I've used a garden hose multiple times before I got my Python. It was totally safe and I have a "run of the mill" garden hose.

[str1p]

thanks for all the replies. i ended up using the garden hose, so far no problems, just took about a day and half to get the water warm.

[marisa]

I don't think anyone's going to see any problems using a garden hose now and then. It's just healthier to use one that's drinking water safe. Like I said, it's up to the person.

Not many things are "totally safe" these days...

[jozzep]

I noticed that nobody brought up the true problem with hose water.....
You're not supposed to turn it on and "immediately" drink from the hose or use it for it anything.You turn it on and let the water that's been sitting in it for who knows how long run for a few minutes. After that it's just as safe as faucet water.
My $0.02

[marisa]

I think that was brought up in the suggestion to let the water run for half a minute or so...And any hose should be drained after being used. Standing water is bad in any hose. Bacteria will grow, especially if the hose is exposed to heat.