Water crisis in Western Cape

Discussion in 'General Aquatic Talk' started by Riaan [urbionic], Jan 19, 2018.

  1. Riaan [urbionic]
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    Riaan [urbionic] Noob

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    Hi guys, was just wondering how many of you are dealing or prepping for the coming 'day Zero'. Recently I unpacked my old equipment and two small tanks to start up in the hobby again, but realised that I'll be wasting much water in cleaning, rinsing substrate, water changes ect that I just can't get myself to start again. Made me wonder how you guys with established fish-rooms or plenty of aquariums are hoping to deal with the possibility of the taps running dry.
     
  2. Paul
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    Paul Plant menace

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    I am combating this with a water from air machine it gives me 60 liters a day enough for my shrimps. and my family if things get critical.
     
  3. Trev Pleco
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    Trev Pleco Algae destroyer

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    so Paul, are you taking the damn moisture from the air and so it never rains here ? lol

    Currently going off the grid an relying on well point and collecting rain when lucky. I also buy RO when needed, but agree it has serious implications on the future of our hobby in the Cape.
     
  4. Trev Pleco
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    Trev Pleco Algae destroyer

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    As regards using well point for domestic and needing to raise the pH to preserve the piping, any advice on how best to use and circulate the limestone pebbles (Aquastab)would be appreciated ? Have had a mixture of suggestions..
     
  5. heliophyla
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    heliophyla Noob

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    Where I work increasingly people are talking about ways to stockpile municipal water prior to Day Zero. If one has the means one would almost be stupid not to but on the other hand if we all start to stockpile municipal water Day Zero will happen much sooner.

    I too have a new tank I want to set up and although it is only 100l it doesn't feel right under the circumstances. After being on a waiting list I'm finally getting water tanks installed this week. I can't wait to have guilt free rain water to use.
     
  6. Trev Pleco
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    Trev Pleco Algae destroyer

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    'rain', where is that coming from all of a sardine ?
     
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  7. Hendre
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    Hendre Plant menace

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    Currently just keeping tanks low stock without Feeding too much and is working so far. We have a well point however the parents don't want to get a filter just yet, so I'll have to take some of the 25l allowance for filter cleaning and that's it I guess...

    More plants help, water sprite is a nitrate sponge.
     
  8. Joshua Tree
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    Joshua Tree Valued Contributor

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    You could do this but morally it’s just wrong. Rather think outside the box. I currently have a 2200l Jojo standing empty in case one day we get rain
     
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  9. foo
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    foo Algae harvester

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    Ok firstly, just be careful because stockpiling muni water is illegal.

    I have been using 100% grey water for my 60cm since it was set up. This is the grey water I collect from the shower as it warms up (the dirty grey water is used to flush the toilets). Although, I have no lifestock in there.

    During water changes, the old water goes to my pond outside.

    Our water use is down to 42L per person, per day...

    Will be getting quotes for new gutters and a jojo tank or 2 this week if we can somehow get stock!

    Will need a plan B if day zero arrives... go low tech maybe?
     
  10. Trev Pleco
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    Trev Pleco Algae destroyer

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    tanks seem more readily available than rain at the moment, many of the nurseries also carry them as well ..
     
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  11. Dirk B
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    Dirk B Aquascaper

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    The way to go is advertised on another thread. Offer all your plants as a swop for rocks..... and then close down your tank.....

    Quite frankly, there is a new housing development around every corner in the bigger Cape Town area, and it beats me stone dead how the fantastic Cape Town City Council ever thought they were going to supply water to all of these developments. It is actually completely crazy and completely unsustainable. The Council is going to have to have a complete rethink on new and expanding developments, there is no water for them.... But then politicians promise you anything because all they want you to do is re-elect them and then comes the next election they have made their cash and can disappear. I have had it with politicians regardless of party.....

    Kind regards,

    Dirk
     
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  12. Olivier
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    Olivier Green fingers

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    And no help at all from the government to Western Cape, the Gupts sucking it all dry...
     
  13. BugMan
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    BugMan Green fingers

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    but isn't high tech the way to go?

    like isn't there a way to filter the water change water from you tank and then put it back into the tank? (That is why i say high tech)

    I've now started recycling my water in such a way even though I'm in Gau. I take the 20L water change water from the 60L tank and then filter it through a water filter that one use to filter drinking water. After it is filtered i add the water to the 30L and 15L after their water change. I then take the water that i took out of the two smaller tanks and filter it again before throwing it into my breeding tubs... Up to this point I haven't seen any ill effects on my shrimp or fish in the tanks or breeding tubs and have been running like this for over 3 months now...
     
  14. foo
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    foo Algae harvester

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    Does your filter remove chemicals from the water?
     
  15. Hendre
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    Hendre Plant menace

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    @BugMan maybe check for nitrates and replenish minerals...
     
  16. Dirk B
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    Dirk B Aquascaper

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    The way to go if you are keeping fish is to set up a proper anaerobic filter which converts accumulating nitrates into nitrogen and oxygen gas. However, this needs quite a bit of technical expertise and know how.

    Kind regards,

    Dirk
     
  17. BugMan
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    BugMan Green fingers

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    The nitrates are acceptable and I dose lots of minerals for the plants in all my tanks so this is never an issue really.


    Prof Dirk, This sounds like something worth researching... Because if you can get it to work effectively you should be able to run your entire tank on only water top ups bu the sound of it.

    Thank you very much!
     
  18. Dirk B
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    Dirk B Aquascaper

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    But Bugman, if you dose minerals their levels will creep up and they need to be a constant level, so you will need water changes to get the mineral levels down. Also if the nitrates go too high that it not good, for fishes very bad, and plants should not have too high levels either and this can also stimulate algal growth. So we are on a knife edge with this all.

    Anaerobic filtration reduces nitrates but does nothing to the minerals.... it's by far the best way to go....
     
  19. f-fish+plants
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    f-fish+plants Aquascaper

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    Hi Dirk , now I am not in CT but like to play with in reducing the need for a WC, kinda why I looked into the BCB filter thing http://www.apsa.co.za/xenforo/threads/bcb-filtration.16867/ not sure if you have read-up on it as an easy to do converter of nitrates into nitrogen ...

    Do you think the science behind the BCB is solid or does it need real life proof?

    Later Ferdie
     
  20. Dirk B
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    Dirk B Aquascaper

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    Ferdie,

    whilst you may be interested in reducing the needs of a WC, your attempts at reducing nitrate levels are so multifactorial that no one can identify one specific improvement to reduce their nitrate levels. That thread is just an utter confusion of many things.

    Keep it simple, try to reduce nitrates whilst keeping everything else constant, that is the recipe for survival of Cape Town's water crisis atm.

    Kind regards,

    Dirk
     

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