using tap water

[mishi8]

I test the pool before I go in. Just to be safe because I go in almost everyday.

If you use a water filtering system, you can reduce the levels of chlorine in the water. But if chlorine is used in proper levels, it can be a great tool in the fight againsted harmful bacteria.

It's an important tool in the public water supply, if we didn't have it, we'd be getting sick from all sorts of stuff. A lot of public pools have switched over to a combination of salt and chlorine or ozonated water...big difference! I like buying water, though, cause the stuff from the tap doesn't taste great, especially since it's quite hard.

 

[Kasakato]

Here in Toronto its pretty good. Nothing crazy, just water. Once you get it in the cup there's little or no chlorine smell.

 

[Larissa]

I agree too, that it's needed for killing germs in the municiple water supply but I'm still not drinking it. We have treated lake water where I live and it tastes awful, chlorine or not and actually we have chloramine. That can't be good for your body. I have a pur water filter on my tap and it works great. I think it's way cheaper than buying bottled, plus I'm not using up all of those plastic bottles or jugs. I tried to use the filter for my tank water but that was starting to cost too much money. Dechlorinator is cheaper.

 

[mishi8]

I agree too, that it's needed for killing germs in the municiple water supply but I'm still not drinking it. We have treated lake water where I live and it tastes awful, chlorine or not and actually we have chloramine. That can't be good for your body. I have a pur water filter on my tap and it works great. I think it's way cheaper than buying bottled, plus I'm not using up all of those plastic bottles or jugs. I tried to use the filter for my tank water but that was starting to cost too much money. Dechlorinator is cheaper.

I've tried the Pur water filter on my tap, and it clogged way too fast...I gave up on it, the filters were costing way to much. Then I was using a Brita filter. It worked well, but it only worked if you kept the jug full. I like having a water cooler. We all drink more water with it, which is a definite plus. The water jugs go back to the store, and are reused (after thorough cleaning and sanitization of course!) Wouldn't use that water for the fish tanks though (unless I needed R/O water)...dechlorinator (in my case, dechloraminator!) works well.

 

[Kasakato]

I guess it all depends on where you live. I have the Brita tap water filter on the tap and have to replace it every 3 months.

 

[Bitz]

What about leaving the tap water out in buckets overnight? Doesn't that cause most of the chlorine in the water to evaporate and render it safe for tank use? That's what I've always done...comments?

 

[mishi8]

Leaving tap water out overnight doesn't work if your water has chloramine. You have to use a good dechlorinator in that case (Prime or Amquel is best), because chloramine takes an extremely long time to gas off.

 

[Kasakato]

Chlorine will evaporate on its own with in 24 hours with good aeration. But if the water company is adding ammonia with the chlorine, to form choramine, it wont be going any where soon. It can tank 30 days+ for the two to un bond.

 

[zazz]

scavenger. The only thing I do to tap water as a rule is use dechlorinator.
If you have well water, you dont have chlorine and therefore, you dont even need that.
If you Dont have a well, You will have chlorine in the water, and I have seen chlorine in the water kill fish fast (granted, a sick fish, but still impressive)
Letting the water sit out in an open topped container for 24 hrs or so , especially with a bubbler in it will remove the chlorine from the water.
The other thing a town or city might add to your water is Chloramine ( ammonia And chlorine, somehow )
That Wont just gas off out of the water and you Do need to use Prime or a similar water conditioner to remove it.
There are tons of chemicals sold to add to tanks, most of these you dont need to worry about. Unless you have a special situation with special needs and expert advice, Id say stay away form other additives. clean water, good food, should keep the fish healthy.
PS BY THE WAY
NOT A STUPID QUESTION. some fish are tougher than others, but there are some things that No fish should be exposed to IMHO and that includes chlorine. keep the questions comin :thm:

 

[scavenger]

Does toronto tap water use chloramine?

I've decided the "evaporation" way to rid my water of chlorine now and just left some tap water in a bucket overnight. But since, as said, some cities use chloramine which can't be removed this way, I was just wondering if any of you who live in toronto know if the water system here uses it?