General Care Discussion :: Water Help

[cutepanda86]

Hello all!

Currently for Sheldon's water I use a Brita filtartion system that sits on the counter. The filter reduces chlorine (taste and odor), mercury, copper, and Cadmium. This seems to be good for Sheldon and he's happy and healthy.

However as anyone can imagine, it takes a lot longer than running the tap but we have massive chlorine problems due to using Lake water.

As I'm moving and I'm looking to speed up the process, I'm looking to use a filter that attaches to the faucet. However it reduces chlorine (taste and odor), lead, Asbestos, Turbidity, Benzene, and TTHMs. Now personally this sounds like a better way to go but it does not remove the heavy metals.

Thoughts? I'm updgrading him to a 40 gallon tank soon and I don't want to put 20 gallons of water in there that could make him sick.

How do you guys with large tanks do it?

[steve]

I would be tempted to use something like this: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=33171

I'm not sure how fast things can be speed up, since contact time is important for the filter to do it's work. But you could have it running the day before you need it and store it in a container.

[cutepanda86]

That looks cool but I'm moving into an apartment. Where would I set that up? Hmmm... Things to ponder... Thanks Steve.

[ljapa]

How do you guys with large tanks do it?

I've been doing this for not quite a year with my 55 gallon (with a 55 gallon tank as a refugium. Probably about 90 gallons of water):

viewtopic.php?f=9&t=33171

There are fish with the main tank and the turtle, and fish and red cherry shrimp in the refugium. I've not been using any dechlorinator and have not noticed any issues. There have been no fish losses. There have been shrimp losses,but they do not seem to be tied to water changes.

Edit: and I just realized Steve's link was to the same thing. Doh!

[steve]

You could attach it to most faucets. I don't think carbon alone can remove heavy metals, though I think the design can be modified. Would the apartment building have some water filtration? Many do, especially where there are known water issues.

@ljapa - How has it been working for you? I haven't tried this setup yet (I have carbon and Purigen in the canisters) but I think it might be good when I get lazy and just need to top off the water in the tank.

[ljapa]

@ljapa - How has it been working for you? I haven't tried this setup yet (I have carbon and Purigen in the canisters) but I think it might be good when I get lazy and just need to top off the water in the tank.

I love it!

I had been doing buckets with the 20 gallon, which wasn't that big of a deal since a 25% water change was just one 5 gallon bucket.

But, once I went to the 55 gallon and then the refugium, a 25% change was 4 buckets--twice, once to empty and once to fill. I had gotten an aqueon water changer for the 55 and a python for the 20 (the sinks in the basement and upstairs bathroom have different fittings and radically different distances). I was still treating with prime. It was a pain.

It was actually the thread about water treating viewtopic.php?f=6&t=33826 that made me finally break down and take the plunge back in December. Water changes are such a less hassle now.

Plus, I figure the shrimp are going to be more sensitive than the fish, which will be more sensitive than the turtle to any chloramines. I've not had any issues.

I can't recommend it enough. And I know I've made more frequent water changes than I would have becuase it's no longer something I dread.

[cutepanda86]

@ Steve - I don't think they do. Although I have not asked. Good thing to think about. Thanks!

Thanks for chiming in ljapa. I appreciate it. With two recommendations, I will definitely have to look into it.

[amwassil]

Here in Vancouver/North Vancouver, BC, chloramine is used to disinfect the water which makes it taste pretty crappy. A few years before I got interested in turtles I set up a faucet filter for drinking water. This consists of a Rain Fresh "pre filter" and silver impregnated ceramic filter. Both these items sit on the kitchen counter top attached to the faucet with a special adapter that diverts (by turning a switch) the incoming water into the filters and then through a small outlet. I think at the time, about 7/8 years ago, it cost me about $150 for the two filters and all the required plumbing to connect them to the faucet. The "pre filter" removes the chloramine using a special activated carbon filter and the label on the filter states that it only works for 6 months or 600 US gallons before requiring replacement. The silver impregnated filter is not required to remove the chloramine, but here in North Vancouver, it removes a whole lot of other "crap" in the water. I have to clean the ceramic filter a couple time a month. Otherwise it gets so clogged with "sediment" that it takes a lonnnnnnnggggggg time to fill a gallon jug with filtered water.

I have both turtles and tropical fish in my aquarium, so I only put filtered water into it. The turtles could probably survive unfiltered water, in fact we feed them in a Rubbermaid tub in plain tap water. However, the fish would soon die in tap water. So the turtles get the benefit of living in filtered water along with the fish. This filter is quite easy to set up and maintain, although I don't see how you could use a "python" type water device with it. I use gallon jugs to replace water in the aquarium. It's a PITA, but I only replace 4-8 gallons per day, so it's not that big of a deal.

[cutepanda86]

That sounds cool. Thanks amwassil.