Hello. What is the consensus re best method for dechlorinating tap water? My instinct tells me removing chlorine etc using carbon before adding tap water to a tank should be preferable to adding other chemicals to the tank to ‘neutralise’ it
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Dechlorination
- Thread starter Ian61
- Start date
Hi @Ian61
It's not just chlorine that's a potential problem in tap water. And, nowadays, some water companies use chloramine instead of chlorine to disinfect tap water. So, it's a little more complex than it first appears. There is also no reason to be concerned about 'other chemicals' - it all depends what chemicals are used. I suggest that you have a read of the following and then ask any remaining questions that you may have. A very popular tap water conditioner is Seachem Prime. I use it and millions of other aquarists use it.
JPC
Hi. Thanks for that. My more recent fishkeeping exploits have been in koi keeping where it seems to be very much standard practice to pass tap water through an activated carbon filter before entering the pond water. This is related to removal of chlorine/chloramine and heavy metals in particular. Clearly the water volumes involved are different but one would imagine the principles are the same.
Cherries
Member
Actually activated carbon should not be used unless removing medication from water. As for water dechlorinator, I use standard API water dechlorinator and it is more than sufficient. I am not sure whether its choramines or chlorine that is broken down to ammonia.
sparkyweasel
Member
- Joined
- 30 Jun 2011
- Messages
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Activated carbon will remove chlorine, but not chloramine or metals. It's also good for organic compounds, but those are unlikely to be a problem in UK tapwater.
Catalytic carbon will remove chloramine as well as chlorine.
A good tapwater conditioner will remove or neutralise chlorine, chloramine, heavy metals, ammonia and nitrite.
Your water supplier may not routinely use chloramine, but they may use it occasionally to treat a particular problem or risk, so it's good to be protected against chloramine.
Catalytic carbon will remove chloramine as well as chlorine.
A good tapwater conditioner will remove or neutralise chlorine, chloramine, heavy metals, ammonia and nitrite.
Your water supplier may not routinely use chloramine, but they may use it occasionally to treat a particular problem or risk, so it's good to be protected against chloramine.
Hi all,
I'm not a <"tap water user">, but if I was I'd use a water conditioner like <"Prime">.
cheers Darrel
I think all water companies have the option for chloramine dosing. The EU limit on <"faecal coliform bacteria"> in tap water is really stringent, which means that as soon as the integrity of the water main is threatened they add <"emergency chloramine dosing">.
I'm not a <"tap water user">, but if I was I'd use a water conditioner like <"Prime">.
cheers Darrel
Oldguy
Member
Does any one have formulations for de-chlorination/de-chloramination. Judging by aquarium ferts I assume they they are also expensive compared to the actual ingredients.
The forum has done a lot of work on EI mixes, time for a new venture someone.
The forum has done a lot of work on EI mixes, time for a new venture someone.
Hi all,
This is probably the best we've got <"Chloramine and the Reef Aquarium"> by Randy Holmes-Farley.
cheers Darrel
Kordon's Amquel <"has a patent"> and I'd be surprised if the composition of "Prime" was chemically much different.
This is probably the best we've got <"Chloramine and the Reef Aquarium"> by Randy Holmes-Farley.
cheers Darrel
not called Bob
Member
I use sodium thiosulfate to remove it, its very cheap and a little goes a very long way
Been doing some research on koi forums and there does seem a lot of doubt about the claimed chlorine removal effectiveness of in line dechlorinators. Several reports of effective removal of chlorine (verified by testing) only at miserly flow rates. Not great for aquaria, let alone koi ponds with capacities of 1000s of gallons!
Think my Oase dechlorinator might be staying in its box and going back to the retailer. I’ll re-invest the £99.99 in bottled dechlorinator. Any recommendations anyone?
Think my Oase dechlorinator might be staying in its box and going back to the retailer. I’ll re-invest the £99.99 in bottled dechlorinator. Any recommendations anyone?
John q
Member
Seachem prime. Costs a bit more to buy but price per dose is a lot less than other brands. 5ml treats 200L.
