testing water

[Harlock]

Based on what I was told by my local Water Lab and the fact that more and more people are reporting seeing it happen in their communities, chloramine use is very much on the rise in this country. I like to play the odds. If I dont know someone and haven't actually heard them confirm or deny calling the Municipal water supplier, then I usually suggest they do, or barring that they pick up a Salicylate test to be on the safe side. I don't know PJFish. PJFish never stated that they are certain there is no chloramine in the water. I felt an assertion that Nessler-based tests were okay to use might have been a little premature is all and was simply pointing that at. Perhaps you have information that I don't regarding PJ Fish's water. I was just of the feeling that it is better to be safe, than be sorry when it comes to one's aquarium.

 

[pjfish]

I have no idea what's in my municipal water supply, especially after flooding conditions we had in January. I will call and see what I can find out. What should I ask about? Clorine? Cloramines? Ammonia? Anything else?

Thanks!

 

[mishi8]

I have no idea what's in my municipal water supply, especially after flooding conditions we had in January. I will call and see what I can find out. What should I ask about? Clorine? Cloramines? Ammonia? Anything else?

Thanks!

Check out your water company online and see if they post info on their water. My company posts a week's worth of daily water parameters of water from their treatment plants. Info includes the chemicals used for treatment, pH, temperature, GH, KH, etc. Of course those measurements can change before they reach your own taps, so you'll want to test the water yourself too, but this will give you an overview of what the water is generally like and will confirm if you're dealing with chlorine or chloramine. My local company also posts more extensive monthly & yearly data and summaries.

mishi8

 

[JSchmidt]

You can also call the utility. They're usually pretty helpful, especially if you explain why you want to know. It's not a hard thing to find out.

Jim

 

[Harlock]

You can also call the utility. They're usually pretty helpful, especially if you explain why you want to know. It's not a hard thing to find out.

Jim

I'll second that. Heck, the guy I talked to seemed to love to have a reason to do something besides work. We talked a good 20 minutes.

 

[pjfish]

Apparently my local water company isn't as user-friendly as others. They publish a summary of water quality once a year which meets the minimum fed requirements. Right now, I can see 2003 stats online and in April, I will be able to see 2004 stats. How helpful is that??? Anyway, I finally talked to a company chemist and he talked in 1-word sentences. He didn't give much info unless I had a specific question. I found out they add chloramines, chlorine, and flouride. They add aluminum, then remove it. They do not add phosphbates, silicates, or copper.

I use Stress Coat which is supposed to address chlorine and chloramines, but that's about it. Any helpful advice or words of wisdom based on my water company info?

 

[mishi8]

Apparently my local water company isn't as user-friendly as others. They publish a summary of water quality once a year which meets the minimum fed requirements. Right now, I can see 2003 stats online and in April, I will be able to see 2004 stats. How helpful is that??? Anyway, I finally talked to a company chemist and he talked in 1-word sentences. He didn't give much info unless I had a specific question. I found out they add chloramines, chlorine, and flouride. They add aluminum, then remove it. They do not add phosphbates, silicates, or copper.

I use Stress Coat which is supposed to address chlorine and chloramines, but that's about it. Any helpful advice or words of wisdom based on my water company info?

It's too bad they weren't more forthcoming with info. At least now know you know that they use chloramine. Unlike chlorine, chloramine won't quickly "evaporate" out of water (eg letting water stand for 24 hours before using), so you need to make sure you treat for it. Otherwise, all the other parameters can be tested for with your test kit.

 

[Harlock]

Apparently my local water company isn't as user-friendly as others. They publish a summary of water quality once a year which meets the minimum fed requirements. Right now, I can see 2003 stats online and in April, I will be able to see 2004 stats. How helpful is that??? Anyway, I finally talked to a company chemist and he talked in 1-word sentences. He didn't give much info unless I had a specific question. I found out they add chloramines, chlorine, and flouride. They add aluminum, then remove it. They do not add phosphbates, silicates, or copper.

I use Stress Coat which is supposed to address chlorine and chloramines, but that's about it. Any helpful advice or words of wisdom based on my water company info?

Heh, okay, you need to ditch the Stress Coat as it is just Sodium Thiosulphate and is strictly a dechlorinator with some chelating agents for the heavy metals. Since you have chloramines you need to treat a little deeper than that. I suggest Prime or Amquel with Prime being my favorite because it is highly concentrated. 2 drops per gallon of water is all you need. Also, now that we know for sure they use chloramines, you'll want to address the test kit situation and get one that is Salicylate based. I use the Hagen-Nutrafin kits and they work superbly. Good luck!

 

[mishi8]

Heh, okay, you need to ditch the Stress Coat as it is just Sodium Thiosulphate and is strictly a dechlorinator with some chelating agents for the heavy metals. Since you have chloramines you need to treat a little deeper than that. I suggest Prime or Amquel with Prime being my favorite because it is highly concentrated. 2 drops per gallon of water is all you need. Also, now that we know for sure they use chloramines, you'll want to address the test kit situation and get one that is Salicylate based. I use the Hagen-Nutrafin kits and they work superbly. Good luck!

Harlock, what is the difference with using Nessler vs. Salicylate tests when dealing with chloraminated water? Lots of places sell the test strips...the water here has been treated with chloramine for a long time now...you'd think they'd have appropriate test kits for sale everywhere because of that!

mishi8

 

[Harlock]

Nessler-based kits don't distinguish between ammonia and ammonium. Ammonium is the end result with a product like Prime or Amquel and it is still usable by plants like ammonia, but not (as?) harmful to fish, like ammonia. So, the nessler-based kits will have you jumping at shadows while the Salicylate test will give you ammonia readings, not ammonium.