Remove Chlorine and Chloramine

[jckoi]

How do you remove Chlorine and chloramine during water change? Each time is 1300 gallon of water and at least twice a week.
Jackson.

[KoiCop]

I'd add ST crytals for the chlorine and a small amount of binder (like Amquel) for the ammonia released from the chloramine.

Amount to add would depend on the chlorine ppm of your tap water. Ours runs 2.5 ppm. If you don't know, contact your Water Company.

[KoiCop]

Lynn (Eluned) posted this in another parish and I'm sure it will help with your chemo questions.

"Back when KoiVet was a serious koi board, Jason Sargeant (Camilla Koi Club) sent me a chem calculator he wrote. Here is a link to the latest version. He based it on Roark's chem calculator."

http://my.starstream.net/sarge/KoiCalc.html

Downloading Jason's calculator to your computer is quick and best of all -- it's simple to use.

Bottom Line: He recommends 3.5 ppm ST for each 1 ppm chlorine and a small amount of ammonia binder for the chloramines.

[Mobert]

I use a series of three solid block carbon cartridges. Each cartridge is rated for 6,000 gallons. I try to change one of the cartridges each month---moving the oldest one closest to the water source. My pond is 5000 gallons. The water is re-filled via the 1/4" line and controlled by a float valve in the vortec settling tank. I use MatriKX CTO/2 block filters that I get from eBay for $76 plus $23 shipping for a case of 20 filters.

[Russell Peters]

Quote: Originally Posted by KoiCop I'd add ST crytals for the chlorine and a small amount of binder (like Amquel) for the ammonia released from the chloramine. Amount to add would depend on the chlorine ppm of your tap water. Ours runs 2.5 ppm. If you don't know, contact your Water Company.

Don,

I have been told that Sodium Thiosulfate will not break the chlorina/ammonia bond in chloramines, and if it did binding the ammonia still keeps it in the system for a while. If you use salt, it will release the ammonia. With Jackson changing out so much water it would be safer to use a product like chloramex, which actually oxidizes chlorine, chloramines and ammonia. It leaves you with clean water.
The information we got was from the water department and they said that if there are chloramines in the tap water then ST will not work.

[PapaBear]

Quote: Originally Posted by Russell Peters Don, I have been told that Sodium Thiosulfate will not break the chlorina/ammonia bond in chloramines, and if it did binding the ammonia still keeps it in the system for a while. If you use salt, it will release the ammonia. With Jackson changing out so much water it would be safer to use a product like chloramex, which actually oxidizes chlorine, chloramines and ammonia. It leaves you with clean water. The information we got was from the water department and they said that if there are chloramines in the tap water then ST will not work.

While the binders won't remove the Ammonia, they do render them harmless until the biofilters break them down. The pain in the butt part is that they still show up as high ammonia on your tests even though harmless.
I have the good fortune of living in an area where the levels are so low by the time they hit my tap they're virtually nil just by atomizing my fill water above the pond surface. Some folks have such high chlorine levels you could just about bleach your clothes in the raw tap water . Glad I don't live there.

[KoiCop]

Quote: Originally Posted by Russell Peters Don, I have been told that Sodium Thiosulfate will not break the chlorina/ammonia bond in chloramines, and if it did binding the ammonia still keeps it in the system for a while. If you use salt, it will release the ammonia. With Jackson changing out so much water it would be safer to use a product like chloramex, which actually oxidizes chlorine, chloramines and ammonia. It leaves you with clean water. The information we got was from the water department and they said that if there are chloramines in the tap water then ST will not work.

Interesting.

Dr. Roddy Conrad, the ponding chemist, says it does break the chlorine/ammonia bond in chloramines and that the filter will rapidly eliminate the bound ammonia.

I buy ST in a 50 lb pail from AES.

Last time I checked, the cost differential for chloramex vs ST for dechlorinating water changes was like 1,000 to 1.

[Mobert]

best price I've found for ClorAmX is Reed Mariculture: http://www.reed-mariculture.com/prices/#ClorAm

They are in Campbell, California --- no shipping costs for some of us.

[Russell Peters]

Quote: Originally Posted by KoiCop Interesting. Dr. Roddy Conrad, the ponding chemist, says it does break the chlorine/ammonia bond in chloramines and that the filter will rapidly eliminate the bound ammonia. I buy ST in a 50 lb pail from AES. Last time I checked, the cost differential for chloramex vs ST for dechlorinating water changes was like 1,000 to 1.

I would sooner trust the water department than Dr. Roddy Conrad. The water department certainly has nothing to gain by their statements. (I am not implying that Dr. Conrad does either, so don't go there). If you have any amount of ammonia in your water after a water change, it is a stressor to your Koi. How fast your filter absorbs the ammonia, depends on your system and your fish load. Why would you want to burden your filter with additional ammonmia when you can remove it entirely with chloramex? Remember, not everyone uses Amquel, or anything for that matter, to bind the ammonia. Amquel also tends to stay in your pond, chemically, and when it builds up you can smell it. This is also a bad thing for Koi. If you only use sodium thiosulfate, then it is a mistake, and if you use sodium thiosulfate and a binder it can be dangerous. Your Koi are valuable and I don't understand using a product, that has potential dangers, over a product that is safe, to save money. I buy Chloramex in a 55 pound box and that lasts me all year. Keeton Industries has it for only $250.00. It seems like a small enough price to pay for water than is treated INSTANTLY.

[KoiCCAPW]

Cloram-x is the only thing I use when I change water. And since my filtration is not great, and most likely stay that way until my finances change, I do lots of water changes.
I can't rely on the filters taking care of the ammonia that would be released with ST.

Also, maybe I'm being picky, Amquel kinda stinks! I used it in my aquarium and love it there, but for the pond I like Cloram-x.

Mobert, great price!! gotta go by there and get some more!
I've heard folks say it's more expensive, but for me a 5 lb. tub lasted a full year, can't be all that pricey for me.
I change out probably 200 to 350 gal twice a week at least, from a 1000gal pond.
For me it's a small price to pay for peace of mind.