bad tap water

[Charney]

So looking for info/advice on how to fix bad tap water for the fishes and house. We had someone over from home depot today to do water testing which was actually very interesting. He confirmed that I had fair amount of ammonia and chloramines and chlorine in the water, as well as lot of other less desirable things. His end goal was to sell us a home filtration unit and RO unit just for the kitchen for about $7K and wanted us to sign up on the spot. Needless to say this did not happen.

I have recently figured out that my tap water had ammonia issues due to tank issues. I am currently setting up a fish room and will eventually put on a drip. I was planning on using a filter setup from the filter guys but is there anything I can do for the water coming of the tap for the water changes? Is a whole house filter the best option? Will this remove all the chloramine, chlorine and ammonia? Anyone know of any good units?

Also the whole house filtration will obviously be a higher upfront cost but wonder if it will pay for itself in the long run. The wife and I basically use the tap for cleaning and cooking for the most part. She uses a zero water filter for drinking water and apparently I am no longer allowed to drink the tap water.
Thanks for any input.

 

[duanes]

I just googled the water quality report from the Somerville area, and chloramine is used as a disinfectant. This is the reason you get an ammonia detect on your test.
Chloramine is created by combining an average of 4 parts chlorine with 1 part ammonia and produces a long lasting disinfection residual, that is much less carcinogenic that the use of chlorine alone.
It is also very similar to my tap water, and I use a standard sodium thiosulfate based dechlorinator to remove it. From looking at the report, I don't see anything out of the ordinary compared to any US tap water.
http://www.somervillenj.org/content/582/564/222/228.aspx

 

[Wailua Boy]

$7,000 is way too much for a filtration system IMO. You can get the job done for way less....

 

[Yuki Rihwa]

I really don't know what brand water system unit installed at my sister house but it's a huge unit (located in garage) for entire household daily use, it's cost $3500. Her children got allergic with high alkaline water so the unit soften the water PH down to 6.5~7.0 ...I love her fish tank lol fish look a lot better than mine in color wise.

 

[ragin_cajun]

Huh?! You're thinking that lower pH water makes the fish more colorful? Do her fish grow faster, anything like that? This is very interesting.

I really don't know what brand water system unit installed at my sister house but it's a huge unit (located in garage) for entire household daily use, it's cost $3500. Her children got allergic with high alkaline water so the unit soften the water PH down to 6.5~7.0 ...I love her fish tank lol fish look a lot better than mine in color wise.

 

[Yuki Rihwa]

Huh?! You're thinking that lower pH water makes the fish more colorful? Do her fish grow faster, anything like that? This is very interesting.

I'm not sure about growth rate on her fishes (I'm lazy to drive 3 hours to her house) but those discus, angel fish for sure look better than mine.

 

[ragin_cajun]

Ahh...discus. Discus come from lower pH waters, right? Compared to CA cichlids. Cause I have Vieja and Amph's in 7.8 pH water, and I"ve always read/heard that's fine for them. If somebody out there finds that CA's look better in lower pH water, I'd be interested to hear about it.

 

[HarleyK]

Just for the record: chloramine and chlorine make the water safe to drink. Water treatment by disinfection saves lives.

 

[UnstoppableJayD]

Just for the record: chloramine and chlorine make the water safe to drink. Water treatment by disinfection saves lives.

Harley- he has been losing fish and ammonia blooms for no apparent reason... and gets an ammonia reading straight from the tap... there is def an issue.

 

[HarleyK]

Losing fish and drinking tap water are two different issues.
He mentioned he is no longer allowed to drink it (by the wife?)
It's safe for human consumption if it meets EPA standards, which it is required by law.

If the water test revealed a bigger issue, then he needs to report it to the water supplier.

Just putting our gripes with water treatment into perspective.
And saying that the water tester was full of bull, trying to make a few grand in sales.

I am not saying that ignorantly. I live in the same area...maybe even on the same treatment plant.

Prime works for me?!