Thread: cleaning water tanks

Originally Posted by d@rk51d3

Also be careful with rainwater and carbon filters. The bacteria in the rainwater breeds like mad in carbon. So if you're susceptible to guardia (etc.) you may need to find another filter media, or at least get a carbon with a ceramic outer. Not cheap though, and very slow passthrough.

We remove the filters from the bowls, vacuum seal them in bags and stick them in the fridge between uses. Also replace every 12 months regardless of how often they are used.

Originally Posted by clean32

i wouldint be leaving water in any tank, rain water isint very clean, just to form rain a fair amount of dirt needs to be injected and then theres the method of capture. town supply is the best. rain water 3 days and i would be getting a bit suspect.

Darkside is correct about carbon filters

Recent studies in Adelaide show no difference in infection rates between those using rainwater and those using town water. Most rural residents use rainwater without filtering and without ill effects. These facts suggest that the risk is overrated.

The amount of particulate material needed to nucleate rain drops is so small as to be almost unmeasurable. Much more comes off the roof than falls in the rain - hence the devices that discard the first few litres, but as a general rule, while not as sterile as town water, rainwater presents little risk unless there is some form of overt contamination such as birds nesting on the roof.

John

Filters in your bowels???

Originally Posted by 123rover50

Filters in your bowels???

I'm glad Ron didn't see that one

All corrected now

Been raining all afternoon, if this is climate change ,bring it on.
Water tanks nearly full . Two 10,000 gal tanks, never had filters untill the possum population grew and use the roof as a racetrack. Cockatoos roost on it and frogs live in the downpipes. With all that poo, I decided to put a 10 " carbon filter in the supply to the kitchen sink and icemaker water dispenser fridge. Not the whole house. Filters to 1 micron and I change it when the output from the sink tap drops off. Maybe 4 to 6 months.

No problems so far.

Didiman.

To be honest, most people are not affected by bacteria in the rainwater (except in extreme contamination situations), but to filter it out effectively, you'll need at least 0.4 micron.

Davey Water Products have an item called Acquasafe (I think). Essentially it's an oxidising agent that you add to the tank (similar to hydrogen peroxide)than burns (kills) the bacteria, and converts to water in the process. Also contains a silver colloid in trace amounts too. Highly recommended but the water companies, and used by B&B's, and food production facilities that use rainwater.

Another effective method is UV. Not cheap either, and not exactly portable.

Darkside.
Surely a T piece in the line with a bung in it is easier than removing the tank to put a drain in????
Andrew

Originally Posted by clean32

i wouldint be leaving water in any tank, rain water isint very clean, just to form rain a fair amount of dirt needs to be injected and then theres the method of capture. town supply is the best. rain water 3 days and i would be getting a bit suspect.

Darkside is correct about carbon filters

I'd be sure your tinfoil hat has a brim, so as no rainwater gets on your skin

If it smells and tastes fine, its fine