Organized tank water swap?

[Decadence]

Has anybody ever thought of meeting up with everybody, bringing a gallon of water from their healthy tanks and mixing it all together, then leave with some of the mix? After reading recently about a medical procedure where the stool of a healthy donor is placed inside of your colon to promote bacterial diversity and therefore, digestive system health, I thought "yuck"… Then I thought "Hey, maybe that concept could be applied to reefing".

 

The idea would be simple - everybody with thriving tanks bring a gallon of water from their tanks to the next meeting. All of the jugs are poured into a large container and everybody who wants to diversify the bacteria in their tanks could leave with a bottle filled with the mix. This could be especially good for people with new tanks or people who have gone years or decades without adding anything new to their tanks and are experiencing poor bio-diversity.

 

Thoughts?

Edited September 15, 2014 by Decadence

[DuffyGeos]

Thoughts?

 

I will keep my own stool and my own water.......

 

 

I understand it, but what happens when someone thinks that their water is great, but is harboring something that now gets spread to everyone else's tank.

 

I think it is probably better if you have a new tank and are looking to introduce some good bacteria to find one person's healthy tank.   IMO

[howaboutme]

My understanding is that there is very little bacteria in the water column itself. They mostly reside on the surfaces of our tanks, the rocks, sand, etc.

[paul b]

I don't have any test kits, rarely change water, collect NSW and mud from the sea and use an undergravel filter.  Do you want to use my water?

[Coral Hind]

Long ago we did do something like this at club meetings where people brought in sand and it was mixed and shared. I think sand would be a better choice than water.

[Djplus1]

Thoughts?

 

I will keep my own stool and my own water.......

 

 

I understand it, but what happens when someone thinks that their water is great, but is harboring something that now gets spread to everyone else's tank.

 

I think it is probably better if you have a new tank and are looking to introduce some good bacteria to find one person's healthy tank.   IMO

This is what I'm thinking. I'm sure the majority of people here know what's up with their tanks, but all it takes is one over ambitious clown to not fully understand what's going on and ruin everyone else's tank. You know the type, 1000 posts in 3 months, wants to get super involved, gives unwarranted advice, then completely disappears because their tank crashed and they move on to birds.

[YHSublime]

Don't forget, some of us took a pee in our water!

 

I mean, not me, but, "don't drink the water, there's pee in there!"

 

I took sand from several members tanks when I started, like CoralHind mentioned.

[MrSexyShrimp]

Don't forget, some of us took a pee in our water!

 

I mean, not me, but, "don't drink the water, there's pee in there!"

 

i'm pretty sure months of fish waste and the occasional rotting dead thing waste trumps all other concerns.

 

"oh it's OK to drink my tank water, i used the rotting shrimp method, not human urine, everything's cool."

[YHSublime]

i'm pretty sure months of fish waste and the occasional rotting dead thing waste trumps all other concerns.

 

"oh it's OK to drink my tank water, i used the rotting shrimp method, not human urine, everything's cool."

I take a shot of tank water every morning. Keeps my hair shiny.

 

As to not stray into jokes, I'll agree with CoralHind again, sand accomplishes this concept better. I think Howaboutme is correct that most if the beneficial stuff is not in the water collum, but on surface area. That's what I believe anyways.

[DuffyGeos]

Thoughts?

 

I will keep my own stool and my own water.......

 

 

I understand it, but what happens when someone thinks that their water is great, but is harboring something that now gets spread to everyone else's tank.

 

I think it is probably better if you have a new tank and are looking to introduce some good bacteria to find one person's healthy tank.   IMO

 

I really didn't state this correctly. Find one person's healthy tank and get some live sand or live rock to seed yours.

[DuffyGeos]

I don't have any test kits, rarely change water, collect NSW and mud from the sea and use an undergravel filter.  Do you want to use my water?

 

This is coming from a man who likes to roll around under his tank dripping wet in saltwater as he plays with electricity 

[ridetheducati]

You are better off exchanging a cup of sand.

[Wrench]

Any pathogens that you're worried about being in the water will also be in the sand. Also it's more likely that ich tomonts will be transferred in the sand.