Let this be a warning to you

[daudy_dojo]

your smart

 

[BettaMomma]

I'd say I'm moreso like a freak that just won't let things go, but I'm going to check on that RIGHT now SRC.

 

[BettaMomma]

I couldn't find any info on what their filters do except remove chlorine and a bunch of metals. I tried to rip it apart to see what is in it but the darn thing won't come apart.

I guess if I went outside and smashed it againt the sidewalk I'd see what was inside...

Either way, I contacted the company.
We shall see if I hear back.

 

[3fsh]

Actually, if it's safe to drink, I doubt it has anything harmful in it for fish. What I do think that could have happened is that it could have lowered or raised the pH of your water and shocked their systems that way.

 

[mlee0332]

I'm glad you posted this!!! I was thinking of getting one in the next few days b/c cant afford an RO filter. That's the kind you need tho, an RO, but those can run 400 dollars (or atleast the ones I saw)

Edit: if you think about it 3fsh, city tap is safe to drink, but it would roast your fish in a second, so it is very well possible that something could be in the water that harms fish and not humans...

Speaking of lowering and raising pH, my water company's water all of a sudden has no buffering capacity at all!!! The pH changes from 6.2-6.8 all the time and KH registers at 0.0ppm. Which isn't good. Its not that the water sat long either b/c I'm in the middle of cycling with 7 fish and I have to do daily 25% changes... Maybe I should ask them about that...

How could I raise KH? Is there any way possible?

 

[Jezah]

Cant you raise KH using baking soda...? Or is that something else. Oh well. BettaMomma....did you check the parimeters of the water from the filter...?

 

[3fsh]

if you think about it 3fsh, city tap is safe to drink, but it would roast your fish in a second, so it is very well possible that something could be in the water that harms fish and not humans...

Ack... that's not what I meant. Actually, tap water is not very safe to drink and is very harmful to your health. There are all sorts of organisms, bacteria, metals, sediments, and nasties in there. What I was trying to say is that I doubt there is something in the filter which would harm fish but not harm you if you drank it. (Other than chlorine.) My best guess is that it raised/lowered the pH too much for Jack's little body to handle.

Bettamomma: Is there any chance you could put the filter on and test both the regular tap water and then the filtered water? Maybe comparing the two results would provide a clue.

 

[Synirr]

Actually, tap water is not very safe to drink and is very harmful to your health. There are all sorts of organisms, bacteria, metals, sediments, and nasties in there.

Tap water in America has stricker standards put on it than bottled water... Yes, I am saying that tap water is healthier than most, if not all, bottled waters -- at least for humans.

 

[daudy_dojo]

our tap water goes through alot of filters and stuff before it gets here dangerous stuff is removed *karate stance*

 

[mlee0332]

I was thinking if tap water was bad for me, then I should be dead! I drink tap all the time here at my house, and no ill affect.

 

[fishmom]

Thanks for the heads up about the water filters!!! We have been thinking about getting one for a long time and just haven't gotten around to getting it. If this could kill a fish what can it do to humans over time?

 

[SRC]

Our water is safe for us to drink because it has chemicals added to it to remove those bacteria's..which is why it's bad for fish.

We mammels can drink it because our own bodies filter the bad stuff out (i.e. liver and kidney's), we don't have to breathe it..like fish...lungs don't filter out much.


If that filter uses metals to filter the impurities out (I'm seriously thinking it does) then that could be a major problem..as hard metals in water are toxic to fish...which is why we have specific additives for fish tanks that nutralize hard metals...since some tap waters contain more of those, depending on the location and if they are needed to filter that area's drinking water (usually found higher in city areas where their water supply has to reach further out to rural areas..that way by the time the water makes it out to those people it's not contaminated..my Uncle works for for the Birmingham Water Works...only reason I know this).

I know you can use a Brita water filter to make cheap Vodka taste like Premium (takes running it through it 7-10 times but it does work), because it filters out all the impurities.
*edit* here are the instructions, for those curious http/www.ohmygoditburns.com/wordpress/index.php?p=4

 

[SRC]

Oh God, I think I was right.. I did a Google search right after I posted and look what I found on CNN...

Study: Some home water filters may make lead problem worse

Some filters may actually increase water's lead content
Brass faucets in filtration systems eyed as culprit
June 18, 1998
Web posted at: 11:27 p.m. EDT (0327 GMT)
SAN FRANCISCO (CNN) -- A California environmental group says some home water filtration systems, designed to make drinking water more pure, may actually be increasing the amount of lead in the water.

The Center for Environmental Health had 16 different brands of water filtration systems tested by researchers at the University of North Carolina at Asheville. Six brands produced water that exceeded California's limit for lead, with two -- made by Franke Inc. of Pennsylvania and Omni Corporation of Indiana -- generating water with readings substantially higher than the limit.

The California standard was used because there is no federal standard for lead in water.

Researchers point to brass faucets in the filtration systems as the lead-generating culprit. Brass is a combination of copper and lead.

"The water is left standing in the faucets themselves, and if these faucets contain lead, over the hours that this sits, what will happen is that this (lead) will gradually build up (in the water)," said Richard Maas, director of research at UNC-Asheville's Environmental Quality Institute.

The situation may be made worse by the fact that the filtration process makes the water more corrosive, allowing it to leach even more lead out of the brass faucets than it would if there was no filter hooked up at all, Maas said.

Although their products are certified by the National Sanitation Foundation, both Franke and Omni said they would investigate the results of the center's study. Franke is pulling the system in question from the market until tests can be conducted.

In the meantime, the Center for Environmental Health suggests two ways people with home water systems can combat the problem -- replace brass faucets with ones made of stainless steel, or let water run for at least 10 seconds before using it to discharge any fluid that has been stagnant inside the faucet.

http/www.cnn.com/HEALTH/9806/18/toxic.water.filters/

 

[50000_tears]

holy shiz..i almost bought one of those! you said louis wasnt as lethargic..one thing about my blind guy i cant tell if he is sleepin or just sittin there ...my mom wonders if he is sleepin or layin there,and if he possibley can see a little,she thinks he has like tunel vision ...but back on topic...i dont use tap..iv used bottled since i was in the 4th grade i havent had any problems ,only bottled water that is bad is the kmart kind that had bad amonia in it when i put stary in it...shes fine now..i think

 

[BettaMomma]

Well, I guess that explains it then.


Poor little Jack.

I couldn't find my test kits last night - I wanted to test the water that's still in Jack's tank versus what is in the newly changed out straight-from-the-tap water. I'll see if I can do that, just for kicks.