Chloramine question?

[goldfish freak]

When using a water conditioner that removes chloramine from tap water, does it first break the chlorine- ammonia bond then remove these two substances? If I used product that only removes chlorine, will it break the bond, remove the chlorine and leave the ammonia behind in the tap water? I am sure I heard the answer to this before but I have forgotten. Thanks.

[Manix]

This might be a bit out of my league but...
I think the extent would depend on the conditioner itself.
Most I have used remove only the chlorine and chloromine, leaving the amm.

[Sharyl C]

GF you are correct in thinking that a dechlorinator that only works on chlorine will leave behind the NH4 while nuetralizing the Cl.

I'm not quite up to speed on how it works but a product that works both on Chlorine and Chloramine (i.e. amquel) binds up or nuetralizes the NH4 ion so it is no longer harmful to fish.

Sorry I don't have a more setailed answer for you but I hope this helps.

[beviking]

Sharyl, are you sure about the chlorine only neutralizers breaking the chloramine bond and leaving the NH4?? I definitely DON'T know but I didn't think chlorine only neutralizers would even break the bond??:confused:

[RTR]

Plain ordinary thiosulfate will break the chloramine bond and complex the chlorine freed by that break. It does nothing for the ammonia released. Many folk suggest using 2x th chlorine-only dosage, but that still does nothing for the ammonia.

This is a case where you have to read the fine print and sometimes between the lines - you can harm your fish depending on the levels of chloramine in your water supply and the volumes changed.

[StevieM]

I am pretty sure I remember one of the authorities on here stating that if used in double strength they will break the chloramine bond and as for the left over Ammonia, there are only a couple companies that make products ( Amquel is one for sure, another popular one I don't remember ) which will also neutralize it to Ammonium NH3 > NH4 which is harmless to fish and a source if food for plants....if I am not mistaken. Please correct me if I am wrong. Do a thread search under "Sodium Thiosulfate" and you will get some info about them from the heavyweights on here as well...

steve

[wetmanNY]

I bumped StevieM's post "Sodium thiosulfate... read this!" since it related to questions raised in this thread.

[famman]

Can somebody refresh my memory on sodium hydroxymethane sulfinate? How is it similiar/different to Sodium thiosulfate, or is it the same chemical?
thankx,
:)

[goldfish freak]

Thanks for the info everone.