chloramines and SPS

[teamlounge]

How do you test for Chloramines in your water? Anyone had a bad experience with SPS corals and higher levels of chloramines? Does it kill your coral slowly over time? What level of chloramine in your water is too high? What is normal? I understand it "depends" on what's in your tank...so think about it from an SPS perspective. thx very much.

 

[drawman]

You would essentially need to test your RO water with free vs total chlorines to determine if there are chloramines getting through. They are bad for fish so I would like to assume the same is true for more sensitive coral but I don't know of any studies that have been done. I think the aim would be to reduce them as much as possible. Does your city water supply use chloramines? A quick phone call would be helpful.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Are you using tap water? Are you treating it somehow?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I discuss chloramine issues here:

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

 

[teamlounge]

Great stuff Randy...ordered the test kit. I use RO/DI water. We heard our water supply switched to chloramines a few months ago. Interested to test readings over time. Seems as though it's all about being diligent with the filter changes as long as the system removes the chloramines to begin with? thx much

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I expect you'll find it takes out the chloramine, but if not, there are special carbon filters that supposedly do an extra good job at it.

 

[bif24701]

BRS 1 micron carbon blocks are what I use (2 each in series after the sediment chamber) and they do a good job. BRS advertises them to be manufactured specially for these situations. Pick up a regular carbon block and then the BRS block and you will see that the BRS block is heavier, contains more carbon thus giving you more contact time. Having two in series as BRS recommends for chloramines should take care of your problem. I purchased the 6 stage upgrade kit and very happy with it, the kit ships with all new filters for your system (RO not included). I test my water before it enters the RO to see if any are slipping through. Ha ring two carbon blocks in series I only change one about every 6 months, I move the last block to the first position and the new one in the last position. This methods works well for me.