[Mamaghouly]

Looking for some insight. I have a small three level fountain that I think would be perfectly safe for my budgies to play around provided I place some large rocks at the deeper spots.

I was hoping to add some sort of filtration media but was unsure of what would be unsafe and it's hard to find on the internet! I've searched the aquarium filter sections at pet stores near me and looked up everything I could find to try and figure out if it was safe but no luck.

I was just wondering if anyone had any budgie safe filters or filter media they could recommend??

Thanks for the help

 

[Sweety's mom]

If it’s a decorative fountain and has been in use in your home I wouldn’t try to make it a budgie fountain. I assume it’s made of plastic and some type of combined metals and possibly paint. There would be a lot of dangerous materials to the bird. Also there is no way to completely clean and dry the tubes inside.

 

[StarlingWings]

Completely agree with the post above. Unless it's 100% stainless steel or unpainted and inert plastic then I would definitely not try and make it budgie-safe as residual chemicals, paint, etc. that leeches into the water will harm your budgies~

 

[karenblodgett3261]

Any fountain type item will develop a build up of residue. And if plain tap water is used, there may be even more contaminates. Cities add different chemicals such as fluoride and chlorine, and well water may have undesirable things leaching into it, that unless you have it tested regularly, you may not even know about. The play sink I got for LoVey spends more time running to clean it out than it does with her playing in it. Actually this post has gotten me to thinking! I may start using distilled water in her little sink as an added measure of protection! Distilled water goes through a process that removes contaminates and is the type of water recommended in humidifiers.

 

[vrabec]

Distilled water goes through a process that removes contaminates.

The process is called "distillation" 👨‍🔬 🤓

 

[karenblodgett3261]

The process is called "distillation" 👨‍🔬 🤓

I looked up how you can distill water at home. To keep the humidifier going I'd be at it all day lol! It stated that eight cups of tap water will only yield about 1.5 cups of distilled, and takes 46-60 mins. I'd rather spend the money to buy it "ready to use!" Lol.

 

[vrabec]

Aha, I had thought distillation was common knowledge but I suppose not Distillation is simply boiling the water and collecting the steam... There's something not quite adding up with whatever instructions you found, if you collect 1.5 cups after boiling 8 cups then that's a huge amount of waste and extremely inefficient. My guess is what you found is how to make moonshine

That said, it's not something you really need to do at home even if the collection were closer to 8 cups, distilled water is generally inexpensive at the store and you'll probably spend more money on electricity or gas plus your own time to make yourself a gallon of it (however, there appears to be a shortage in some states right now for some odd reason). I suppose it would be a good thing to have if you are off grid and using something like well water.

 

[karenblodgett3261]

Aha, I had thought distillation was common knowledge but I suppose not Distillation is simply boiling the water and collecting the steam... There's something not quite adding up with whatever instructions you found, if you collect 1.5 cups after boiling 8 cups then that's a huge amount of waste and extremely inefficient. My guess is what you found is how to make moonshine

That said, it's not something you really need to do at home even if the collection were closer to 8 cups, distilled water is generally inexpensive at the store and you'll probably spend more money on electricity or gas plus your own time to make yourself a gallon of it (however, there appears to be a shortage in some states right now for some odd reason). I suppose it would be a good thing to have if you are off grid and using something like well water.

The cost of electricity and time was my first thought too! Hmmm... moonshine for me and millet for LoVey. Girls night lol!

 

[FaeryBee]

Bottom line is that the fountain you have currently should not be used for your budgies.
If you wish to have a budgie fountain for them, I suggest you buy a "budgie safe" one and use distilled water in it from the beginning.
Distilled water sells for 99 cents per gallon in most grocery stores.

Best wishes!