FishGeek Posted January 21, 2006 Report Share Posted January 21, 2006 Would the water that I get from my dehumidifier be usable for aquariums? It is safe? Anyone do this before? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyL Posted January 21, 2006 Report Share Posted January 21, 2006 Generally not recommended as the coils where the liquid condenses upon - are generally made out of brass, copper or aluminum (depending on model). Therefore the condensate coming off can be high in a variety of heavy metals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toirtis Posted January 21, 2006 Report Share Posted January 21, 2006 The water is also chock-full of airborne pollutants and fungal spores....really nasty stuff, actually. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FishBrain Posted January 21, 2006 Report Share Posted January 21, 2006 If you pour some of the water into a bucket you can see the oil slick (so to say)on topp of the water caused by the dehumidifier Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wandj Posted January 22, 2006 Report Share Posted January 22, 2006 I used it all summer with no ill effects. Or, I just didn't notice. But I bought one that was very expensive if that makes a difference. Next time I use it, I will examine the water. It's so dry right now, it won't work unless the humidity is over 30%. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arixonbarnes Posted January 22, 2006 Report Share Posted January 22, 2006 Wouldn't the airborne pollutants be in our tanks as well? Also I noticed that if the dehumidifer runs fairly often and gets emptied regularly the water is okay but if it is left in the bin or a container by itself it goes slimey (probably due to the low ph). I have never noticed any oil on mine but I empty it every 3rd day in the winter and ever day in the summer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toirtis Posted January 22, 2006 Report Share Posted January 22, 2006 But I bought one that was very expensive if that makes a difference. Not at all....even with the best on the market, most even have imbedded in the dehumidifier instructions warnings to not use the water for anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toirtis Posted January 22, 2006 Report Share Posted January 22, 2006 Wouldn't the airborne pollutants be in our tanks as well? Yes, but in far, far lower concentrations....plus any contaminants from the dehumidifier itself would not be in your tanks otherwise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnsmith Posted January 22, 2006 Report Share Posted January 22, 2006 Am I living in the same AB as everyone else? This is driest place I've ever been (except for Winnipeg). I can't imagine why you would need a dehumidifier :shock:. Or do you have that many tanks? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toirtis Posted January 22, 2006 Report Share Posted January 22, 2006 Am I living in the same AB as everyone else? This is driest place I've ever been (except for Winnipeg). I can't imagine why you would need a dehumidifier :shock:. Or do you have that many tanks? Actually, I do....my ambient humidity without a dehumid is about 45%-50%....with cooking or a shower, it can peak at 80%. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wandj Posted January 22, 2006 Report Share Posted January 22, 2006 The ONLY reason why we bought one (two actually), is because our sewer pump stopped working and I drained my bathtub. ALL the water from the tub backed up all over the carpet in the basement. We tried fans, but it did not evaporate the water fast enough and we were starting to see mold. So that's why we bought a dehumidifier. I think the humidity was over 70% when we started it up. I was emptying it TWICE a day. Finally the air was down to 35%. Now, it is at 21% because it's winter and very dry. (Water from the basement dissipated long ago). Even in my fish room, with 16 tanks, the humidity was never over 35%. But you should see how much water evaporates from my tanks now! A lot! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Froggie Posted January 22, 2006 Report Share Posted January 22, 2006 (edited) Actually, I do....my ambient humidity without a dehumid is about 45%-50%....with cooking or a shower, it can peak at 80%. Nothing says winter like a layer of ice on the windows. Edited January 22, 2006 by Froggie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mighty Prawn Posted February 23, 2006 Report Share Posted February 23, 2006 Wow, I can't even imagine that kind of humidity here. I guess all I need is another 2000 gallons or so and I should stay plenty humid in here! -Hideo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCallele Posted February 23, 2006 Report Share Posted February 23, 2006 I'm like Toirtis: I evaporate about 40L a week into the air, and that is with a relatively closed off, basement fish room. Humidity at about 35% with the door closed, over 50% if I leave it open all day. If the door is oen, my evaporation rate jumps dramatically. Whenever I catch a cold, I just go sit in my basement: about 550 gallons of tropical temp water... Really, I am sitting there watching the fish, for my health!!! -roll- David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FishGeek Posted February 25, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2006 My landlord forced me to get the dehumidifier after coming to visit during the winter. After seeing the how the ice ripped apart my window sils I was given the choice of given a dehumidfier or getting rid of the tanks. So i got a dehumidfier. I tried putting some of the water in a bucket, and sure enough, an oil slick formed on top. A shame it's not usable but oh well. Time to go back to make due with using snow. Thanks for the input ! :beer: . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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