Chlorine in tap water

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Thank you for the helpful info.
I decided to test the tap water for ammonia and nitrite last night as well. The ammonia was 1 ppm. Is this unusual? Everyone else I have lived it has been very close to 0.
 
I use a canister water filter from the local hardware store and have tested the water coming out of it and have 0 chlorine unless i dont change the filter every couple of months.
 
Charney;4564665; said:
Thank you for the helpful info.
I decided to test the tap water for ammonia and nitrite last night as well. The ammonia was 1 ppm. Is this unusual? Everyone else I have lived it has been very close to 0.
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If your provider is disinfecting with chloramines it is not unusual at all, although that is a little higher than what one would expect. The generation of chloramines requires the mixing of cl2 and NH3/NH4
 
Stopped spending on test kits 15 years ago, swear by Seachem Prime, and doing water changes religiously. Its the most inexpensive insurance around, ignore it and your fish are on borrowed time imo.
 
I do large weekly changes on my tanks. Think I am going to start using prime and stress coat together for now on.
 
I would say you are more likely to have chloramine in your water than chlorine. Chlorine quickly dissipates from water with gentle agitation. You can do that as you add water and will be a lot less likely to see the effects. However, typical rule of thumb is to use a dechlorinator and be safe rather than sorry.

Chloramine is a different animal all together. It is a molecule of chlorine and ammonia. A typical bond is broken with a dechlorinator, however, that leaves behind ammonia. Local municipalities add varying amounts during the year, and can also go from chlorine to chloramine and back. It's really a crap shoot unless you call your local water authority and happen to get lucky with someone answering the question correctly and honestly. It's usually safest to treat for worst case.

Experimenting is best done with a test kit and not your livestock.
 
Clay;4564810; said:
Chloramine is a different animal all together. It is a molecule of chlorine and ammonia. A typical bond is broken with a dechlorinator, however, that leaves behind ammonia. Local municipalities add varying amounts during the year, and can also go from chlorine to chloramine and back. It's really a crap shoot unless you call your local water authority and happen to get lucky with someone answering the question correctly and honestly. It's usually safest to treat for worst case.
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Just curious where you got this info?
 
You should be able to find that info locally through your water provider. Some providers will use chlorine, but then dose every now and then with chloramine.
 
Actually I was asking because I am a class A domestic water plant operator, and we are in the process of switching from free cl2 to chloramines, and the process involved in switching from one to the other is not nearly as simple as some think. Besides all the EPA notifications and paperwork, the entire system need to be completely flushed. Also we work really hard to maintain a constant ppm leaving the plant at all times. The whole process is closely monitored by the EPA and WQCD.
 
Interesting. I've never seen too many fluctuations in my chlorine levels, but the again, once I knew what they were, I pretty much stopped testing. Of course, a chlorine/chloramine filter helps. LOL
 
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