Troubles with Aging

[Teshi]

I have been aging my water as suggested for over a month now as suggested due to pH swings from tap to aged.

But I am having an issue. I feel like when I do my water change my fish are getting worse water that I put in than I take out because the water I take out is clear and looks clean but the water I put back in from the aging containers is cloudy white.

I wipe down and rinse out the containers b/4 refilling them. I even did a PP tx on them as suggested by a sponsor. I have lots of aeration and heat in them.

I'm wondering if anyone else has had this trouble and would be able in to help me correct this problem. It really BUGS me my water isn't clear when I do the change. It isn't bubbles either like you would get from filling directly from the tap.

The aging container water tests:
temp-86
pH-8.4
NH3/NH4-0
NO2-0
NO3-0

[Second Hand Pat]

Margaret, are you adding a power based dechlorinator in your barrow?

[Niblet]

Hi Margaret....no expert here, but what is your water source....well or municpal? And, how long are you aging?

[Teshi]

Margaret, are you adding a power based dechlorinator in your barrow?

No I use Prime

Hi Margaret....no expert here, but what is your water source....well or municpal? And, how long are you aging?

I have municipal H2O and I age it 24hrs. I do daily w/c on my tanks. As soon as the barrels are emptied I rinse and refill. Add de-chlorinater so I don't forget when I'm putting in in my aquarium.

[Second Hand Pat]

Margaret, what are you using for your WC barrows? Are them food grade? I am wondering if the Prime could be interacting with the WC barrows in some way.

[Teshi]

Yep they are the Brute containers. I thought that to so then decided to try not adding the Prime to the barrel but to the tank instead. It made no difference.

[Second Hand Pat]

Well, another thought is the source water. Try aging (with aeration) your source water in a glass unless it is cloudy coming from the tap.

[Teshi]

My water clears up in the aquarium after about 12hrs. I'll try aging in a glass. I seem to remember doing this before but don't recall if it turned cloudy or stayed clear.

A sponsor suggested I PP my aging barrels then neutralize with H2O2. that water was CRYSTAL clear. He suggested that to kill any bacteria in my aging barrels

[DiscusDrew]

The prime was my only thought as well... That's pretty strange, water hardness level? I'm wondering if mineralization could be having an impact as a result of reducing carbonate hardness from aeration? That is NOT an answer more a question for someone who knows far more than me. I thought my water was a pain..haha

[Teshi]

I have no idea my water hardness level. How would I find out?

[Second Hand Pat]

You would need a GH test. API makes a GH/KH test and I have found this test in my LFS as well as online.

[DiscusDrew]

Anywhere that sells water heaters or softeners (Sears, Lowes) can test water hardness measured in grains per gallon, then you can convert it to ppm so we can understand it. That is not a super accurate test but it doesn't cost anything and will give us an idea of where you stand. Test kits for hardness and alkalinity (carbonate hardness) are also available obviously as well. If your PH in local Tap is that high then you stand a good chance of having a pretty high mineral content, could be responsible for some of your problem i'm not sure, someone else needs to answer that one

[Teshi]

So basically it would mean that I need to use RO water if my mineral content is high? I do know I have a lot of lime in my water. I hate scrubbing it off my shower.

[Teshi]

But what I don't understand is why aging does this? I mean when I was putting it right into my tank without aging after the air bubbles cleared up the water was crystal clear again. Its only when I'm aging the water that I get it cloudy.

[Second Hand Pat]

Margaret, are you aging to reduce micro bubbles and/or handle a Ph swing? Maybe aging is not needed? I have no suggestions on the lime/cloudiness. Almost seems like you are knocking something out of suspension with the aging/aeration.