Just an FYI to members who may not be aware of this. I just checked my local water co. & we are lucky to use the same water source as NYC, had been voted one of the top 3 in best tasting waters in the U.S! They don't plan on changing to Chloramines anytime soon. but do read this for your edification. I use Prime as highly recommended by many members.
"With many municipal water systems switching over to Chloramines, your present chlorine removal agent can become obsolete overnight! Many areas of the country have plans to switch, or have already switched to chloramines, due to federal guidelines relating to water sanitization. There is no notification requirement regarding any impending switchover, though some water companies have begun educating customers.
Chloramines are very stable antiseptics that act more slowly than chlorine but remain active for longer in water. Chloramines are generally prepared from chlorine and ammonia (one-quarter to one-half as much ammonia as chlorine) or ammoniac salts.
Chloramines are much more stable (lasting weeks) than chlorine and can provide a reservoir or bank of chlorine making it a more reliable sanitizer while also reducing the presence of suspected carcinogenic or mutagenic disinfection oxidative byproducts known as Trihalomethanes (THMs) .
Conventional Chlorine removers will break the bond between Chlorine and Ammonia leaving free Ammonia. Ammonia is very harmful to gill tissue and damage is cumulitive throughout the life of the fish. While biological processes (filtration) can reduce the free ammonia levels in your aqaurium (if using a conventional chlorine removal product), your fish are still exposed to these high levels of ammonia for the duration of the nitrification process of ammonia-nitrite-nitrate. To insure the lowest exposure levels for your fish choose a water conditioner specifically designed to remove chloramines and not just one which breaks the bond of Chlorine/Ammonia. If the product does not say “Removes Ammonia” then it is probably only breaking the bond and not removing Chloramines-Ammonia. Also remember, Chloramine sanitized water cannot be aerated or aged to provide fish safe levels as is sometimes done with Chlorine treated water."
"With many municipal water systems switching over to Chloramines, your present chlorine removal agent can become obsolete overnight! Many areas of the country have plans to switch, or have already switched to chloramines, due to federal guidelines relating to water sanitization. There is no notification requirement regarding any impending switchover, though some water companies have begun educating customers.
Chloramines are very stable antiseptics that act more slowly than chlorine but remain active for longer in water. Chloramines are generally prepared from chlorine and ammonia (one-quarter to one-half as much ammonia as chlorine) or ammoniac salts.
Chloramines are much more stable (lasting weeks) than chlorine and can provide a reservoir or bank of chlorine making it a more reliable sanitizer while also reducing the presence of suspected carcinogenic or mutagenic disinfection oxidative byproducts known as Trihalomethanes (THMs) .
Conventional Chlorine removers will break the bond between Chlorine and Ammonia leaving free Ammonia. Ammonia is very harmful to gill tissue and damage is cumulitive throughout the life of the fish. While biological processes (filtration) can reduce the free ammonia levels in your aqaurium (if using a conventional chlorine removal product), your fish are still exposed to these high levels of ammonia for the duration of the nitrification process of ammonia-nitrite-nitrate. To insure the lowest exposure levels for your fish choose a water conditioner specifically designed to remove chloramines and not just one which breaks the bond of Chlorine/Ammonia. If the product does not say “Removes Ammonia” then it is probably only breaking the bond and not removing Chloramines-Ammonia. Also remember, Chloramine sanitized water cannot be aerated or aged to provide fish safe levels as is sometimes done with Chlorine treated water."
