Municipal water.

[esoxlucius]

Given the value of some of the fish we keep, whether it's simply cash value or purely sentimental, we really do put a lot of trust in our municipal water suppliers to keep our water in tip top shape.

However, we are all too aware that, depending on where you come from, water suppliers don't always do that. They are forever tinkering with "additives", changing things are their end. Not to bad for us who have to drink it, but not always good for our fish!

In an ideal world there would be an aquarists "register". If you were a member on such a register you would receive an email from the water supplier in advance of their tinkerings so you were well armed to deal with any potential issues. But of course that will never happen and we don't find out about any tinkerings until water change day.......like I did this morning!!!!

My water supplier is great and I've never had any issues. But this morning when I started refilling my 360 during a water change it was obvious the "detergent" levels had been tampered with.

I added my prime as usual and all I could really do then was monitor my fishes activity and breathing. Thankfully all was fine. The soapy type surface bubbles you can see in the picture eventually disappeared.

It reminded me just how much we are in the lap of the gods regarding municipal water suppliers. It's scary really.

 

[Midwater]

Given the value of some of the fish we keep, whether it's simply cash value or purely sentimental, we really do put a lot of trust in our municipal water suppliers to keep our water in tip top shape.

Certainly do. I even drink the stuff myself.

 

[A201]

Interesting topic. I live in a rural water coop district. The reservoir the water company draws from is a beautiful clear lake located just minutes from my house.
Of course the water is treated with chlorine but on occasion the company uses chloramine. A notice is sent out when that happens. Don't believe detergent or fluoride is used.
I've been lucky, never a problem.

 

[Pufferkeeper]

When it rains in cali unforuntatley they add more chlorine and other chemical to the water. I normally do my water change before the rain is predicted and then I wait for about a week before I water change again. when I showered after it Rained you can smell the chlorine In the water and you can smell it on you after the shower

 

[tlindsey]

you can smell it on you after the shower

Wow!

 

[duanes]

As a former water chemist/ microbiologist, for a water provider, and aquarist, I was the guy that was forwarded all the complaints from people with tanks, and dying fish.
I would sometimes be sent to their homes to test the water. I must admit when I'd get there, and test their tank water, 90% of their tanks water was atrocious, and even when I showed test results, they wouldn't believe it was mostly their lack of maintenance. And the suggestion of a reasonable water change schedule was always poo poohed

We never used detergents or surfactants in our treatment process, so that's a new one on me.
Our water came from Lake Michigan (an inland sea), which is surprisingly pristine, with non detectable nitrate, pH 8.4, and quite hard, almost a mirror image of the African rift lakes. We did use chloramine, and ozone as disinfectants, but barely tinkered.

For those on small reservoirs or rivers, you may not be so lucky because they can be easily influenced by weather, or human factors.

One should consider though, the mission statements of water providers is safe drinking water, and what makes water safe for humans, is often no good for our fish. Testing your tap waters chlorine residual before a water changes is always a good idea.
And even though I always knew what was going on, I always added new water to my sumps, as opposed to tanks, for many reasons, other than just chlorine.

 

[Caveden]

When it rains in cali unforuntatley they add more chlorine and other chemical to the water. I normally do my water change before the rain is predicted and then I wait for about a week before I water change again. when I showered after it Rained you can smell the chlorine In the water and you can smell it on you after the shower
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