Chloramine - check your water source!

[Myka]

I just found out that Saskatoon uses chloramine. I don't have chloramine filters in my RO/DI unit. This makes me wonder about some of the issues I've had with my reef tanks...

For those that don't know, chloramine is a chemical used by water treatment facilities. Some facilities choose to use chloramine as opposed to chlorine. In order to remove chloramine you have to break the bind of the chlorine and ammonia, then both need to be removed. Chloramine will not off-gas like chlorine will so adding an airstone to a bucket of water will not remove it. Typical carbon also will not remove chloramine.

If your water source contains chloramine you need chloramine-specific filters in your RO/DI unit before the RO membrane. Chloramine should damage the RO membrane (and irritate/harm the reef inhabitants), although my RO membrane is 18 months old now and I don't have any issues with it.

I can't wait to get the chloramine-specific filters in from BRS and do a big waterchange!

Please either send an email in to your water works division or check your local city website, you should double check. Thanks to one of our local reefers who tipped me off on this!

EDIT: Please check out Buckeye Field Supply's post on Page 5, post #43 for a professional answer to chloramines. Thanks Russ!

[Casey8]

Why don't you just use Prime to remove it ?

[Nano]

I use ro, but I get it from the water fill station, so its no deionized, I do still use prime though as our local water is treated with chloramine as well, luckily the RO has the extra membranes to remove chloramine. We switched to ro for drinking to as I found out our water has mercury in it too! its at a "safe" level, but whats safe?

[marie]

Canadian tire sells RO filters for chloramine

[fencer]

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-11/rhf/feature/

[mark]

reminds me, time to change my pre-filters.

[Myka]

For those suggesting Prime, it is kinda difficult to get Prime into the water before the water goes through the RO/DI unit. After reading the article that fencer posted it sounds like monochloramine (the most common of three different chloramines) goes through the RO membrane not damaging it, but still getting to the tank. In which case adding Prime to the RO/DI product water could be a decent alternative.

Other references suggest that with a typical RO/DI unit the carbon block will convert the chloramine to chlorine and ammonia. The carbon will then convert that chlorine to chloride, which the RO will remove. The ammonia will make it through the RO where the DI will remove it. This would explain why I seem to burn through DI resin faster than what the TDS going to it suggest. There seems to be rather a bit of confusion on the subject! Several references suggest that catalytic carbon is required to break the bond of ammonia and chlorine. Hmmm...

I'm going to order a test kit. I wanted a chlorine kit anyway.

Originally Posted by fencer

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-11/rhf/feature/

This is a really old article, but lots of very interesting information! Thanks for posting! I'm going to see if I can find something more recent.

[toolmanbmw]

What is this special filter I need? I have a 5 stage system and seems to be working fine in edmonton here. I don't use any prime....

[Bblinks]

Originally Posted by toolmanbmw

What is this special filter I need? I have a 5 stage system and seems to be working fine in edmonton here. I don't use any prime....

Can chloramines be removed from water?

Chloramines remain active in the water system for a considerably long period of time. Like other molecules, chloramines contribute to the total amount of dissolved solids in the water. Like chlorine, chloramines are selectively reactive and may have damaging affects when they remain in the water for too long.
When chloramines are present, there are usually trace amounts of ammonia and hypochlorite in the water as well. Chloramines are hardly ionic. As a result and because of the low molecular weight, chloramines, mainly monochloramine, are difficult to remove from water by reverse osmosis (RO) or water softening. Boiling and distillation cannot be used either. Substances for chlorine removal cannot be used for the removal of chloramines. Sunlight and aeration may aid chloramine removal.
Chloramines can be removed by means of a granular active carbon filter. This filter brings down chloramine concentrations from 1-2 ppm to less than 0,1 ppm. One must make sure that the active carbon comes in contact with chloramines for a significant amount of time. An active carbon filter is a selective, which means it also removes other compounds, such as chlorine (reduction to chloride), hydrogen sulphide, organic compounds, THM, pesticides and radon. When these compounds are present in water, this will influence the capacity of the filter.
The amount of chloramines in the water can be determined by measuring the 'total chlorine' residu. This means measuring the 'total amount of chlorine' or the 'amount of chlorine compounds'.



Read more: http://www.lenntech.com/processes/di...#ixzz1j5cuyo1k

[toolmanbmw]

Originally Posted by Bblinks

Can chloramines be removed from water?

Chloramines remain active in the water system for a considerably long period of time. Like other molecules, chloramines contribute to the total amount of dissolved solids in the water. Like chlorine, chloramines are selectively reactive and may have damaging affects when they remain in the water for too long.
When chloramines are present, there are usually trace amounts of ammonia and hypochlorite in the water as well. Chloramines are hardly ionic. As a result and because of the low molecular weight, chloramines, mainly monochloramine, are difficult to remove from water by reverse osmosis (RO) or water softening. Boiling and distillation cannot be used either. Substances for chlorine removal cannot be used for the removal of chloramines. Sunlight and aeration may aid chloramine removal.
Chloramines can be removed by means of a granular active carbon filter. This filter brings down chloramine concentrations from 1-2 ppm to less than 0,1 ppm. One must make sure that the active carbon comes in contact with chloramines for a significant amount of time. An active carbon filter is a selective, which means it also removes other compounds, such as chlorine (reduction to chloride), hydrogen sulphide, organic compounds, THM, pesticides and radon. When these compounds are present in water, this will influence the capacity of the filter.
The amount of chloramines in the water can be determined by measuring the 'total chlorine' residu. This means measuring the 'total amount of chlorine' or the 'amount of chlorine compounds'.



Read more: http://www.lenntech.com/processes/di...#ixzz1j5cuyo1k

Thanks for the info. I do have an active carbon as the second stage.... So I should be safe. But during water change, I think I will still add prime from now on. Just incase.