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Re: Water Conditioners
>Date: Wed, 26 Nov 1997 06:39:14 -0800
>From: "Dixon, Steven" <stdixon at bechtel_com>
>Subject: Water Conditioners
>
>George wrote:
>
>>>It depends to a great deal on which water conditioner you use. If it's
>a simple dechlorinator, there is no problem. If it does something
>with "heavy metals", it will probably affect trace elements like iron.
>Some even have phosphates as buffers (StressCoat, I believe).>>
>
>Thanks George. Will a "simple dechlorinator" handle chloramines
>(whatever they are)? Apparently the tap water here in San Francisco has
>chloramines added. So I'm guessing that unless chloramines are okay for
>plants and fish (are they?), I've got to use a conditioner that handles
>them as well.
>
>Can anyone suggest some commercial brands of "simple dechlorinators"?
>
>Regards, Steve
>
Steve,
From personal (tragic) experience, I can tell you that simple dechlorinators
will NOT work with chloramine...you're left with ammonia which my fish did
not like during a water change. Since then I have used AmQuel (from Kordon
I believe) which neutralizes chlorine, chloramine, and ammonia. One
disadvantage is that if you use a Nessler method ammonia test kit (which
most inexpensive ones are) it will give you readings for the neutralized
ammonia that was in the chloramine which can give you a scare if you're not
ready for it.
Hope this helps,
Kevin