Frozen Food Rinse

[NitroJunkie]

Can I use tap water to rinse frozen foods before feedings?

[scottfarcuz]

Im sure some would say never do it but I have been for years...

I usually rinse it well in a brine net right under the tap then soak it in a little tank water with vitamin supplements.

[szwab]

i use tap water as well. women's hose work well also. real easy to squeeze out some of the liquid.

[tmz]

I use chlorinated tap water. I let the frozen food thaw in it. Then I dump it into a brine shrimp net(fine mesh). The strained food is then dumped back into the container and a small amount of ro/di water is added along with a bit of garlic. I use the tap water to rinse and soak because I think the chlorine will have some beneficial effect on any bacteria in the food.

[Snowboarda42]

I throw a cube in my Brine Shrimp net, and rinse it under tap water until its thawed.

[NitroJunkie]

cool ! Thanks for the replies I have been thawing in a cup of tank water and placing a brine net over another cup and pouring the thawed food though it and then rinsing with another cup of tank water. Its a pain, rinsing with tap would make like some much easier.

[Aquarist007]

Originally posted by NitroJunkie
cool ! Thanks for the replies I have been thawing in a cup of tank water and placing a brine net over another cup and pouring the thawed food though it and then rinsing with another cup of tank water. Its a pain, rinsing with tap would make like some much easier.

that's a pain I know, but you are doing it correctly

[tmz]

Originally posted by NitroJunkie
cool ! Thanks for the replies I have been thawing in a cup of tank water and placing a brine net over another cup and pouring the thawed food though it and then rinsing with another cup of tank water. Its a pain, rinsing with tap would make like some much easier.



that's a pain I know, but you are doing it correctly

It is better to rinse with tap water than tank water.
In a study in May 2005 by Herald Mulder and Robert Baur
Kruppas performed laboratory analyses on several popular frozen aquarium foods. Their findings are published in an article in CORAL magazine Vol3,No.5 Pgs. 82-85. These findings note the presence of vibrio bacteria and further that their presence may cause losses of fish.
A key point in the study is "...we strongly suggest thoroughly rinsing all frozen foods under tap water ...... This not only reduces germ load ,but also the effects on phosphate levels....."

[Aquarist007]

Originally posted by tmz
Originally posted by NitroJunkie
cool ! Thanks for the replies I have been thawing in a cup of tank water and placing a brine net over another cup and pouring the thawed food though it and then rinsing with another cup of tank water. Its a pain, rinsing with tap would make like some much easier.



that's a pain I know, but you are doing it correctly

It is better to rinse with tap water than tank water.
In a study in May 2005 by Herald Mulder and Robert Baur
Kruppas performed laboratory analyses on several popular frozen aquarium foods. Their findings are published in an article in CORAL magazine Vol3,No.5 Pgs. 82-85. These findings note the presence of vibrio bacteria and further that their presence may cause losses of fish.
A key point in the study is "...we strongly suggest thoroughly rinsing all frozen foods under tap water ...... This not only reduces germ load ,but also the effects on phosphate levels....."

I can see it reducing the germ level---but not the phosphate level---it doesn't make sense---there are phosphates in tap water but not r/0 water.

[tmz]

Capn,
I can see it reducing the germ level---but not the phosphate level---it doesn't make sense---there are phosphates in tap water but not r/0 water.

That's correct if you put the tap water in the tank. As noted in my first post on this thread, I don't. The frozen food is thawed in a container of tap water. Then strained through a brine shrimp net(which even catches the cyclopese).The thaw/rinse water goes down the drain . The blob of food in the net is dumped back into the empty container and a small amount of ro/di water is added along with a few drops of garlic juice. The food is then provided with a small turkey baster.Sorry if I was unclear.

[Aquarist007]

Originally posted by tmz
Capn,
I can see it reducing the germ level---but not the phosphate level---it doesn't make sense---there are phosphates in tap water but not r/0 water.

That's correct if you put the tap water in the tank. As noted in my first post on this thread, I don't. The frozen food is thawed in a container of tap water. Then strained through a brine shrimp net(which even catches the cyclopese).The thaw/rinse water goes down the drain . The blob of food in the net is dumped back into the empty container and a small amount of ro/di water is added along with a few drops of garlic juice. The food is then provided with a small turkey baster.Sorry if I was unclear.

Tom--the reason we rinse the frozen mysis in the first place is because the mysis has absorbed phosphates etc from the vats where they were produced--is it not
If we rinse with tap water is there not a chance that more phosphates can be absorbed?

[ERICinFL]

I just thaw my frozen food in tank water, then dump it all back in the tank.

[tmz]

Capn I doubt very much if at all within a few minutes. I always thought the point in rinsing was to remove the packing water from the equation.I don't think the amount of phosphate in the food itself is a significant concern and again I would be surprised if anything but an extremely miniscule amount was absorbed from tap water during thawing and rinsing . Phosphate is used by corals and other organisms and should be c
kept as low as you can but it's not copper or lead or a fungicide. The threat from bacteria is real and can be managed with what amounts to a fresh water dip for food.