Non-Chlorinated Water

[KiwiGal77]

Just for clarification, as it seems some things have gotten a bit lost in translation

- MOST of our city's water is currently & temporarily lightly chlorinated while they're doing maintenance but they are hoping to go back to chlorine free this year, as is standard for our city due to the pureness of our natural water.

- Of course I will continue to use a water conditioner at this stage, I am asking for AFTER the chlorine is taken out whether or not I still need to use one - there isn't risk of them randomly chlorinating without us knowing, it's a really big deal here.

- Our city's full water supply comes from underground aquifers, not rain water.
It is soft (CaCO3 value of 45) and has a pH of 7.8

 

[connorlindeman]

- Of course I will continue to use a water conditioner at this stage, I am asking for AFTER the chlorine is taken out whether or not I still need to use one - there isn't risk of them randomly chlorinating without us knowing, it's a really big deal here.

If theres no chlorine then there's no need to dechlorinate

 

[kiko]

The other day I did a 50% WC on my tank and added the wrong chemical. I had only a little bi of prime left( afew drops) so I decided to add API dechlorenator to compensate. I accidentally added ammo lock instead of dechlorenator. Thankfully there was no problems.

That's the very reason I only do 10% water changes
No chasing water quality on my tank
10% is small enough that it won't affect my fish
And I don't need to fix the water with anything.
If my water ever gets dirtier like I can see stuff in it.
I just change the filter floss.
I've never used anything to test water asides from ph.
Which I do have a controller for it so I don't have to keep playing with water parameters.

 

[kiko]

I don't see is how you have soft water at 7.8.
At 7.8 would mean the mineral content is actually high.
You'd have to have it under 7.
My tap comes out at 7.5 which is lowered by my filter and stays at around 7.3 and my ph controller increases the CO2 to bring it down further to 6.9-7.2

 

[KiwiGal77]

I don't see is how you have soft water at 7.8.
At 7.8 would mean the mineral content is actually high.
You'd have to have it under 7.
My tap comes out at 7.5 which is lowered by my filter and stays at around 7.3 and my ph controller increases the CO2 to bring it down further to 6.9-7.2

It's definitely unusual to have soft water with a high pH or hard water with a low pH, but it is possible and is our situation - that info is straight from our city council's water management.

 

[StevenF]

water utilities use chlorine, chlorine, UV, or ozone to kill bacteria or parasites in the water. It doesn't mater how pure the water is or the water source. with miles of pipes and water storage organisms and maintenance inevitable can get in and as reasult It is highly unusual for tap water to be unsterililaed. And the usual aquarium test kitswillprobably will not detect it. It is best to assume it is chlorinated.

 

[itiwhetu]

Where in NZ are you? I'm in Hokitika. But I have kept fish in a few other places around the country.

 

[StevenF]

Water is very soft (CaCO3 @ 45) with a pH of 7.8

I don't see is how you have soft water at 7.8.
At 7.8 would mean the mineral content is actually high.
You'd have to have it under 7.
My tap comes out at 7.5 which is lowered by my filter and stays at around 7.3 and my ph controller increases the CO2 to bring it down further to 6.9-7.2

Guys PH is not related to water hardness. Hardness (GH) is a measure of the amount of calcium nd magnesium in the water sometimes they do affect PH .but other times they don't. GH boosters generally don't effect PH even though they are full of calcium and mangesium. Additionally water utilities often add things to the water to increase ph to prevent pipe corrosion. Sometimes sodium, potassium, or phosphate compounds are used to increase PH. And these will not affect GH but they mayor may or may not affect KH.

 

[KiwiGal77]

Where in NZ are you? I'm in Hokitika. But I have kept fish in a few other places around the country.

Christchurch at the moment. Have kept fish in Auckland, both on rain water out on a farm and in the city on their gross tap water haha

 

[itiwhetu]

Christchurch at the moment. Have kept fish in Auckland, both on rain water out on a farm and in the city on their gross tap water haha

I kept fish for fifteen years in Christchurch and never used dechlorinator, but what I did was, have my tanks heavily planted, only ever did 25% water changes per week, and used a neutral natural gravel base which I got from the Waimak. If you are going to perform large water changes then things will change. Use driftwood off our beautiful beaches to help your tank go acidic. The high pH is only a temporary thing as the water comes out of the tap.

 

[KiwiGal77]

I kept fish for fifteen years in Christchurch and never used dechlorinator, but what I did was, have my tanks heavily planted, only ever did 25% water changes per week, and used a neutral natural gravel base which I got from the Waimak. If you are going to perform large water changes then things will change. Use driftwood off our beautiful beaches to help your tank go acidic. The high pH is only a temporary thing as the water comes out of the tap.

Thanks for the knowledgeable advice! Definitely looking forward to going driftwood and stone hunting down at the Waimak. Might actually head out there after this latest weather front pushes through- bet there'll be heaps of cool bits.

Going to close the thread down now, have the advice I was looking for

 

[itiwhetu]

Thanks for the knowledgeable advice! Definitely looking forward to going driftwood and stone hunting down at the Waimak. Might actually head out there after this latest weather front pushes through- bet there'll be heaps of cool bits.

Going to close the thread down now, have the advice I was looking for

We are very lucky in the South Island of New Zealand, we have lots of things to collect if we look for them.