Easy 2 parter for you....

[4251cpd]

Question about chlorine.

I'm getting a bit paranoid about my tank now that my three year old is getting REALLY into the curiosity stage.

1. Will chlorinated tap water kill any and all microbes/bacteria that get rinsed in it (cleaning off tank implements during routine tank chores etc)?

2. Air drying said implements, in the form that it is in, does the residual chlorine (whatever the city of Chicago uses) evaporate, bond with the surface of the implements or does it become inert?

Thanks in advance Mike. (I know the first part is more microbiological in nature, but I figured you'd pick up on something like this).

 

[Boomer]

1. Normally not but is a good idea to use a dechlor to be sure. Any LFS should have them.

2. Yes but still a good idea to use dechlor anyway.

Lastly, you need to find out if the water is using chlorine or chloramine. This NOT the same thing. Most municipal water supplies use Chloramine and NOT chlorine. If not you will need Amquel in both cases. Again most LFS have this or Prime.

Chloramine and the Reef Aquarium
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-11/rhf/feature/index.htm

 

[4251cpd]

Thanks Boomer. I've been using Amquel plus since day one. Even treating the RO I buy from the lfs. Appreciate your time, Mike.

BTW, I looked up our city's water site and I'll paste this:

Chlorine: to disinfect the water.
Aluminum Sulfate or Alum and Polymer: for coagulation to settle out impurities.
Blended Polyphosphate: to coat pipes and prevent lead leaching.
Activated Carbon: to remove unpleasant tastes and odors.
Fluoride: to help fight cavities in children's teeth.

Chemical amounts are quite small. The total volume needed to treat 100 gallons of water is about a teaspoon full. That's 15 parts of chemical to 1 million parts of water.

 

[Boomer]

Ok, then two more things for you that you need to know

Amquel plus

Stop using the Aqmuel plus and get straight Amquel. Although they claim it removes nitrates, it does not. The "plus" part interfers with the Nitrate reagents, making you think it is removing nitrate, as claimed but it is really my not. It just masks it the nitrate.

Aluminum Sulfate or Alum and Polymer: for coagulation to settle out impurities.

Not good I hope you are uisng a RO/DI.

Blended Polyphosphate

Not good for two reasons. If you have a RO/DI it will take it out. If not and you are using tap water for the tank, when you make a fresh mix of salt the next the day the phosphate will be high, even though the day before it read say zero. Your kit CAN NOT measure Poly's. In a days time the poly's will get hydrolyzed in the seawater and end up as PO4 ( Orthophosphate) which your kit measures. You wil think the phosphate came from the salt when it really came form the tap water


HP3O410^-4 (Poly) ==> +2H2O ===> 3HPO4^-2 ( Orthophosphate) + 2 H+

 

[4251cpd]

Thanks, all water for the tank is RO. I'll the stop the plus and I only drink the tap water. Travelling a bit around this great land of ours, I still think its the best tasting bar none. Thanks for the help, Mike.