Why do some people think dechlorinator is bad?
- Thread starter JESTERX626
- Start date
At work, a guy came in with a water sample (yer I work with fish) 
and he asked me to test his water... most of the tests came back okay not the best but not the worst... I could smell something weird about the water, he didnt know why his fish died... I asked him if he added something into the water.. he said he put chlorine into the water to get rid of the alage...
and people say de-clorinators are bad? Chlorine is bad.
I don't think i've heard people say that they are bad... *shrugs*
and he asked me to test his water... most of the tests came back okay not the best but not the worst... I could smell something weird about the water, he didnt know why his fish died... I asked him if he added something into the water.. he said he put chlorine into the water to get rid of the alage... and people say de-clorinators are bad? Chlorine is bad.
I don't think i've heard people say that they are bad... *shrugs*
JESTERX626;557423; said:
I think the reason a lot of people wont use it is because they dont know what is in it or what happens to it over time. Does it break down and contribute to nitrates over time? What happens to the chlorine and chloramines that are bound up by it when it breaks down? Does it accumulate and never breakdown? Are the products of its breakdown mutually toxic when other compounds are present in the water.
The sellers of these products wont reveal the contents so people cant help but be a little suspicious. Why add any chemicals at all. If you let the water stand for a couple of days and run carbon in your filters then clorine and chloramine are not an issue anyway.
I personally keep it on hand for 'emergency' water changes but prefer to rely on aging water rather than adding a 'snake oil'.
i love the stuff! plus i dont have room to hold 200g of water while it ages,as i suspect many of us dont.
Most people arent able to hold 100-300gallons of water in a tub and put some power heads/etc on it.. so they just add prime or other stuff.
I have never and wont ever use any type of medications or buffers. I don't have much room for the water to age either, but I do. I work for the water company in St.Louis, and chlorine will kill fish. If we are flushing out a pipe before we connect it for customers to use around a pond or lake we have to use dechlorinator tablets. I guess some one before us found out the hard way about running water straight into a pond. But yeah, I definatly don't use any dechlorinator. Even if you have to keep smaller totes of water and just do more frequent water changes it is definatly the way to go.
Municipal water in the USA has to be treated with chlorine. Federal law requires ammonia to be injected into the water system too, making chloramines. Chlorine can be removed easily be using a dechlorinator. (works in seconds if used in the right proportion) Unlike chlorine, chloramines CANNOT be easy removed, only neutralized.( I use Prime) In order for it to go away naturally the source water needs to be violently agitated for several days. Low levels of chloramines can kill sometimes even several days after a water change. Day 1 water change, day 4 or 5 fish die, why? Probably related to the water change, usually something stupid OR low levels of chloramines.
It's easy to test. Go to a pool supply. Buy a pack of dpd 1 and dpd 3. (about a buck a pack) fill a small vial (test tube) with water, drop in a tablet of dpd 1. If it turns pink, you've got chlorine. Hold the tube in front of a WHITE card or shirt. Now, drop in a tablet of dpd 3. If the water changes to a richer pink or even a wine color, the difference is the chloramines. This second part should take several minutes... 20?
If the water smells like chlorine the ammonia injector is probably broken. If it smells like ammonia, the chlorine isn't there, the guy with the shovel called in instead of showing up for work. No rain... too many chemicals. Lots of rain... more work with the shovel to add chlorine.
Unless you've got your own water source AND it's been tested, spend a few cents per gallon and treat all of the new water you add to an existing tank. A pint normally does around 240 gallons.
If some one hands you a glass of something, do you ask what it is, or just drink it down?
No one is getting rich selling you dechlorinator. There are more profitable and creative ways to steal.
It's easy to test. Go to a pool supply. Buy a pack of dpd 1 and dpd 3. (about a buck a pack) fill a small vial (test tube) with water, drop in a tablet of dpd 1. If it turns pink, you've got chlorine. Hold the tube in front of a WHITE card or shirt. Now, drop in a tablet of dpd 3. If the water changes to a richer pink or even a wine color, the difference is the chloramines. This second part should take several minutes... 20?
If the water smells like chlorine the ammonia injector is probably broken. If it smells like ammonia, the chlorine isn't there, the guy with the shovel called in instead of showing up for work. No rain... too many chemicals. Lots of rain... more work with the shovel to add chlorine.
Unless you've got your own water source AND it's been tested, spend a few cents per gallon and treat all of the new water you add to an existing tank. A pint normally does around 240 gallons.
If some one hands you a glass of something, do you ask what it is, or just drink it down?
No one is getting rich selling you dechlorinator. There are more profitable and creative ways to steal.
Well, it looks like everyone has their own methods. So, I would say what ever makes you feel more comfortable.
Hey Jack, How about those cardinals!!!
I am heading down to the parade today. You going?
oh, and i use prime and love it