Chloramine! Let’s talk about it.

Kaldos · Mar 30, 2021

I know this is an old thread, but I had a question if anyone sees this.

I recently found out my city water has chloramine, and have been worrying my RO Buddy isn't removing it, and more importantly, that it may be harming my coral.

I think Randy was saying that any carbon block (even my RO Buddy) does a decent job of removing chloramine.

Oddly, Aquatic Life (the maker of the RO Buddy), says specifically it does not remove it, and refers to another pre-filter they offer for sale to take care of it.

I tend to believe Randy, that this is mostly marketing on their part. Even more odd, is that the filter has been removed from their website, and is out of stock everywhere else.

So, to my question.

Would Seachem Prime remove the chloramine from the tank, (assuming the RO Buddy didn't)?

I know the ammonia "binding" of Prime is temporary, but the chloramine removal appears to be permanent, according to the Seachem web site.

So, if my only concern is the coral, would dosing Prime after a water change (or filling up the ATO) do the job?

Thanks.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 30, 2021

I'd buy a cheap total chlorine test kit and see if there is any in the effluent. it need not be a chloramine test. Then you can decide based on whether there is an issue or not.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 30, 2021

For example:

Insta-Test Total Chlorine Strips (Fresh Water)

Easily test your drinking water (fresh water) for Total Chlorine with test strips from LaMotte. LaMotte has been a leader in providing test kits and equipment for water analysis since 1919. All reagents, instruments and test kits are designed and manufactured in Maryland. Range and...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

Kaldos · Mar 30, 2021

Thanks, I'll get the test kit. I was going by my city's web site that said they definitely were using chloramine.

Do you think Prime would remove any risk to coral once the water from the RO Buddy is added to the tank?

I'm trying to figure out if continuing to use my RO Buddy is OK (it seems to be), or if I need to invest $200 on one of the big RO-DI units.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 30, 2021

Kaldos said:
Thanks, I'll get the test kit. I was going by my city's web site that said they definitely were using chloramine.

Do you think Prime would remove any risk to coral once the water from the RO Buddy is added to the tank?

I'm trying to figure out if continuing to use my RO Buddy is OK (it seems to be), or if I need to invest $200 on one of the big RO-DI units.

One concern is for the RO buddy membrane itself, not just the tank. Normal chlorine will damage an RO membrane, and most sources say chloramine will too.

LRT · Mar 30, 2021

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
One concern is for the RO buddy membrane itself, not just the tank. Normal chlorine will damage an RO membrane, and most sources say chloramine will too.

Hey Randy do you think the pentek Chlorine Chloramine filter is just as effective as spectrapure?
Really wish I would have been more patient putting my unit together as spectrapure is literally 15 minutes from my house!
I have the standard 3 stage brs di system accompanied by maxwaterflow unit itself with sediment filter,. 1 micron block and pentek filter, 100gpd membrane before it hits di.

Betex · Mar 30, 2021

AZMSGT said:
This is one of my fears. If the city changes our water I’ll never know. In our part of the city there are no chloramines. On the other side it’s in use and a fellow reefer uses a BRS monster chloramine filter. With the knowledge that they do treat one part of the cities water supply with it tells me this side could get changed as needed too.

Edit: I found this video useful on the subject of Chloramines

20X or 50X? Do you have the right RODI filters for the right job? | BRStv Investigates

With the rising popularity of using Chloramine (Chlorine + Ammonia) as a disinfectant in municipal water supplies, the risk of contaminating reef tanks with this harmful chemical rises. Standard, low-cost carbon block filters used in a majority of RO/DI systems simply are not designed

www.bulkreefsupply.com

Really depends on the city as mine we get notices on any changes they plan on doing and they specifically state during this time we are adding extra xxxx if you have an aquarium please do not use for x weeks. Plus think they have to display their tests online so you can log onto your city's water page and review what they use.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 30, 2021

LRT said:
Hey Randy do you think the pentek Chlorine Chloramine filter is just as effective as spectrapure?
Really wish I would have been more patient putting my unit together as spectrapure is literally 15 minutes from my house!
I have the standard 3 stage brs di system accompanied by maxwaterflow unit itself with sediment filter,. 1 micron block and pentek filter, 100gpd membrane before it hits di.

I've not really studied what carbon blocks are really needed, which may be insufficient and which are overkill. I used a number of different types and didn't detect chlorine in my effluent. Some folks may have more disinfectant present or may run higher flow, etc. that needs better blocks.

Thus, the benefit of testing your system before spending money on improvements.