water used to keep fish should be kept below 0.1 mg/L. Total chlo- rine test kits are available from ChloraminesChloramines pet stores, pool supply stores and chemical supply houses. Make sure, however, that the kit is for “total chlorine” or “combined chlorine,” andand FishFish not “free chlorine.” A free chlorine A change in Sioux Falls’ water treatment will test of chloraminated water would read zero but still be toxic to fish. affect your aquarium treatment procedures Will a carbon filter remove Prior to June 2001, the drinking How can I remove chloramines? Yes. To be effective, however, it must water produced by the City of chloramines from the water? contain high quality granular acti- Sioux Falls Water Purification As chloramines break down, either vated carbon and you must Plant was disinfected by using naturally or through the use of de- permit sufficient contact time be- free chlorine. In June 2001 the chlorination chemicals, ammonia tween the water and the carbon. disinfectant was changed to is released. This ammonia must be chloramines. Although chloramines re-moved from the water in the fish Will reverse osmosis remove help to make your water safe to tanks or ponds prior to coming into drink, they are toxic to fish, reptiles, chloramines? contact with the fish or amphibians. No. Salts can be caught by the per- and amphibians. Chloramines must Ammonia may be removed by spe- meable membrane but chloramines be removed from the water these cific agents to remove chloramines pass through easily. animals live in. Unlike free chlorine, and ammonia, natural zeolites, or chloramines do not dissipate rapidly a high grade granular activated Will boiling remove from water, so you will need to take carbon filter. Contact your local pet chloramines from water? extra steps to remove them. Here store to determine the best method No. Boiling is not an effective way to are some facts you should know: for removing chloramines in your remove chloramines from water. The situation. What are chloramines? only practical methods of removing Chloramines are another form of Will letting water sit for a chloramines from water are using a water conditioner which contains a disinfectant which is used to kill few days cause chloramines to potentially harmful bacteria in water. dechloraminator or by using granu- disappear? lar activated carbon. Ask your pet Chloramines are a combination of No. Unlike free chlorine, which dis- chlorine and ammonia and both can supplier for instructions on how to sipates when water sits for a day or use these products. be toxic to fish and amphibians. two, chloramines may take weeks to Why are chloramines toxic disappear. If you have any questions or comments about chloramination, to fish? Do chloramines have to be please contact Tim Stefanich at the Chloramines are a combination removed if only a small Sioux Falls Water Purification Plant of chlorine and ammonia, both amount of water is added to at 367-7025, or send an e-mail to of which are toxic to fish. When an aquarium or pond to [email protected] people, animals, or birds swallow water that contains chloramines, make up for the chlorine and ammonia is evaporation loss? neutralized by the digestive system To know for sure, you will before it reaches the blood stream. have to monitor for total Fish and other marine life, however, chlorine residual. don’t just swallow water —they Chloramine breathe it. When the water contains residuals in chloramines, these substances enter directly into the blood stream and chemically bind to iron in the red blood cells, which makes if difficult for those cells to carry oxygen. Even- tually, fish may “suffocate” from lack of oxygen. Are chloramines toxic to both saltwater and freshwater fish? Yes. Chloramines affect saltwater fish in the same way that they affect freshwater fish.