CHLORINE -how much is to much

[BARRAMUNDI BRETT'O]

Hi all, I was wondering if chlorinated water straight from the tap is ok to top up my system.the water in emerald hardly registers on one of those clorine tester strips for pools,how much chlorine is to much?. Bye Brett

[Dufflight]

Depends on how large the system is. I have a 55kl tank and can just top up from the tap. And some people with much less volume still get away with it. I would only do it slowly. I keep a drum with an air stones in it for emergences for my salt water aquarium but the smaller system can always be saved by using the water from the larger one. If you have to add it do it slowly and give it time to de gas a little in the system.

[GaryD]

Hi Brett,

It won't take a lot of chlorine to upset your system and why risk it anyway when you can get rid of the chlorine in water by simply letting the water stand in a drum or spare tank for a few hours. It will happen even faster if you throw an airline into the storage container.

Check with your local water authorities to ensure that they actually use chlorine. Increasingly, they are using chloramine and that's harder to get out of the water.

Some people use straight tap water to top up their systems and they get away with it. My concern is that regional water authorities (and particularly in warmer climates) will increase the dosing levels to overcome the fact that their water often has to travel big distances and it may often lie in pipes for extended periods of time.

Gary

[jack@badflas]

The other thing is that the additives the water company adds is always changing. Periodically they spike the chemicals, just like in a swimming pool. Top off then and you kill your system.

[BARRAMUNDI BRETT'O]

Hi jack,i made myself a carbon filter out of 90 mml storm water pipe,i fixed hose connectors to each end ,so when i want to top up i just hook up the hose and put it on a slow drizzle,works a treat,hopefully no more chlorine.
Bye Brett

[jack@badflas]

Good luck, but I don't think it will work long term. Ievitably they will switch to chloramine and you'll have lots of floaters.

[BARRAMUNDI BRETT'O]

G'day Jack,to my knowledge carbon neutralizes chloramine as well as chlorine.The problem with using carbon to filter chloramine is that the waste product left after filtration is ammonia.I am currently in the process of making a second filter(in line with the carbon filter) filled with the mineral zeolite,which will remove the ammonia.Zeolite can be used to reduce ammonia spikes saving your fish but can have a detrimental effect on your system's bacteria,which is probably better than dead fish.I dont have any fish in my system at present so the minimal topping up i do wont cause any prob's. Bye Brett

[jack@badflas]

You need to have an extended residence time to remove chloramine with carbon, so it limits flow significanly to be effective. I eventually bit the bullet and bought a Kold-Sterile II. Proprietary material, so about every 15,000 gallon you need to spend $75 on a new filter pack. This is made by Poly-Bio-Marine and I get about 4 gpm through mine.

This thing also removes hydrocarbons, which is a big issue in my water.

[BARRAMUNDI BRETT'O]

Hi Jack,I should have added that i am going to use my 250 litre fingerling tank for the top up water.I have a marine bilge pump for the back up aerator so i can swap the connections over and throw the pump into the fingerling tank and cycle the water for a couple of hours or so,i can then add to my 2500L tank when i need too.I feel that this should work ok. Bye Brett

[Crusty]

G'day Jack,to my knowledge carbon neutralizes chloramine as well as chlorine.The problem with using carbon to filter chloramine is that the waste product left after filtration is ammonia.I am currently in the process of making a second filter(in line with the carbon filter) filled with the mineral zeolite,which will remove the ammonia.Zeolite can be used to reduce ammonia spikes saving your fish but can have a detrimental effect on your system's bacteria,which is probably better than dead fish.I dont have any fish in my system at present so the minimal topping up i do wont cause any prob's. Bye Brett

Interesting Brett. Zeolite has some good benefits, just watch the water calcium hardness as zeolite will soften the water. Though if only bringing in top up water I doubt it will have much effect. You can always put inline after the zeolite, a calcium reactor of some basic calcium carbonate (oyster shells) to readjust the hardness and correct pH. Keep in mind you will have to reactivate the zeolite in a salt bath of 35ppT preferably in the same manner you are using it as soaking has little effect on the ion exchange.