Storing Old/Used Water

[Biglurr54]

Is there any harm in storing old water from water changes for later use (1month) in tank transfer method and Qting? I am worried about the quality of the used water after sitting in a barrel for some time.


My plan is to direct my AWC used water into a barrel to have for TTM and qting instead of making up new water or using display water and doing additional water changes


Yes I am sure my display is disease free.

 

[themcfreak]

Maybe someone else could chime in, but I think old water from your tank that had nitrates and phosphates would not be ok to use for later. In your tank, there are a bazillion processes breaking down nitrates to phosphates, and stuff taking phosphates up. Once you remove from the system, some of the bacteria would go with, and continue breaking down nitrates to phosphates. Then that bacteria would die off in the old water. And your phosphates would stay elevated, because there is no process/macro/coral taking the phosphate in.

Am I thinking that correctly, or is that completely wrong?

 

[Paul B]

It is safe to store for what you are using it for and you can keep it for 37,493 years if you like. I store it all the time for hatching brine shrimp and soaking my feet.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Is there any harm in storing old water from water changes for later use (1month) in tank transfer method and Qting? I am worried about the quality of the used water after sitting in a barrel for some time.


My plan is to direct my AWC used water into a barrel to have for TTM and qting instead of making up new water or using display water and doing additional water changes


Yes I am sure my display is disease free.

Just keep it aerated.

I don't think nutrients are a concern in these sorts of uses, even if high.

 

[Biglurr54]

Nutrients are low and I will aerate it. Awesome!

 

[themcfreak]

Ah, incorrect thinking. Ignore my first post! Thanks for the enlightenment everyone! I would have never guessed that to be the case.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

It is safe to store for what you are using it for and you can keep it for 37,493 years if you like. I store it all the time for hatching brine shrimp and soaking my feet.

Just in time for glaciers to cover Long Island again.

 

[Paul B]

Just in time for glaciers to cover Long Island again.

Yes, I am still waiting for that global warming thing to kick in.
Here is where I collected water a few months ago. My pumps made a lot of noise chopping the ice and Dorothy Hamill kept skating by me.