Tannins in water...use chlorine to clear it up???

[Rue]

We live on an acerage. Our well water is potable...but has issues...one being the high tannin levels...

The fish are likely fine with the tannins...but I don't like the yellow water!

...I've noticed that chlorine precipitates the tannins out of the water (when I clean toilets... )...

...sooooo...I was wondering if it would be feasible to chorinate our water...let the chlorine dissapate...and then use it for my tank(s)...

...it would be a lot easier to set up a larger tank if I didn't have to haul water in from the city...

[Drumachine09]

NO! Chlorinated water=dead fishes.

[Chrona]

Activated carbon, however, will remove tannins

[Nautilus29]

NOT a good idea at all!!

[Rue]

What's the difference if I use city water or chlorinate my own?

Activated carbon will clear it up? That might just be the ticket! :D

[cocoa_pleco]

carbon is good. DONT USE CHLORINE! IT KILLS FISH! thats why you add dechlorinator at water changes!

[Rue]

Maybe I wasn't clear enough in my first post...

I wasn't thinking of adding the chlorine to the tank...

I was thinking of adding chlorine to the water BEFORE it goes in the tank...and AFTER the chlorine had dissapated (letting the water sit for 24-36 hours)...or after I used a dechlorinator...

[cocoa_pleco]

doesnt your tapwater have chlorine? you dont need chlorine at all

[Rue]

...no...we live in the country...our water comes from a deep well...it has no chlorine in it...

[cocoa_pleco]

great, just use the dechlorinator to get rid of chloramines. No, no tanks need chlorine

[Chrona]

As long as you aren't planning on having live plants, activated carbon will be much easier.

[Rue]

But I want the plants!!! I want a heavily planted BIG aquarium!!! :lol:

Hhmm...and now I'm confused about chloramines!!! If I add chlorine to my well water...and it binds with my OM...does that make chloramines???

...no wonder I dropped out of my organic chemistry class...:help:

*argh*

I suppose I could live with yellow water...:( I've used it for the goldfish, and they seemed perfectly happy in it...

...or just keep hauling water from town...

[Sasquatch]

What do you plan on chlorinating with?

I would personally recommend using a Reverse Osmosis filter. It should get rid of the tannins, as well an any other nasties. If you use pure RO water, you'll need to get a salt mix to get your ions back to where they should be, but it's easier than hauling water.

Long term, it's probably the best solution and you can probably get a system that you hook up directly to the well and treat all the water in the house. I know that yellow water doesn't taste that great either.

Also, if your "miscellaneous crew" includes things like tetras and most non-live bearers, they actually like the slightly acidic, low buffer water that RO filtration gives you.

[Chrona]

But I want the plants!!! I want a heavily planted BIG aquarium!!! :lol:

Hhmm...and now I'm confused about chloramines!!! If I add chlorine to my well water...and it binds with my OM...does that make chloramines???

...no wonder I dropped out of my organic chemistry class...:help:

*argh*

I suppose I could live with yellow water...:( I've used it for the goldfish, and they seemed perfectly happy in it...

...or just keep hauling water from town...

If it precipitates, then most likely it does not. Chloramine is formed from hypochloric acid and ammonia (hypochloric acid being bleach/chlorine), which would not happen unless you had a source of ammonia in your well water (which it may). Keep in mind most dechlorinators also handle chloramine. I use Aquasafe by Tetra, and I know it does.

It's a moot point with the activated carbon though. If you want a planted aquarium, then you'll have to chlorinate it and dechlorinate it. Either that or get another small (25% of your main tank size) tank and stick a cheapie filter on it, filled with activated carbon. Figure like 20 bucks for a used tank and 15 for a filter. This way, you could even stick in a heater so you wouldn't have to play around with water temps when changing water. You'll still have to add a trace element additive for plants, but it won't get sucked out of the water by the activated carbon anymore.

[Rue]

We have an R/O system. We use it for our drinking water - but the system is too expensive and time consuming to run more than necessary...to save the system from running too much we only use the R/O water for drinking straight and for coffee and for my birds and the snake...(and I've topped up the 25g with it for emergencies)...even so...it seems to be on all the time (5 of us)

...I use the well water straight up for anything I boil...

It's not a huge issue...I was just trying to figure out a less labour intensive way of getting water...

...the less work it is...the bigger the tank I can have...:D So you see...it's ultimately purely selfish on my part...;)

[Lady Hobbs]

That's why in FL everyone has to use a water purifier on their well water. Tannins are terrible there, as well.

City water has been treated with chlorine to remove bacteria. Chlorine is not in well water but chloramines are which are metals and are in both city and well waters. Even if you don't use a chlorine remover, you should use a chloramine remover with well water. With city water you should use a product that removes both.

The only way to remove the tannins from your water is either use a filtering device on your well water or an RO system. Never add chlorine to your water.

[Glasstapper]

As long as you aren't planning on having live plants, activated carbon will be much easier.

wait, hang on. Are you saying that you can't have plants in a tank that uses a carbon filter? I have plants in my two tanks using carbon and they are growing fine. That's the first I have heard of that, unless I read your post wrong?

[cocoa_pleco]

carbon takes out lots of good plant stuff and nutrients. but, i also too have had success with carbon and plants. Must depend on the plant

[Chrona]

Never add chlorine to your water.

He's adding it before putting it in the tank, and using a dechlorinater as well, so I think the only negative effect is if it has a chemical reaction with the tannins and the resulting product is water soluble. I would contact a high school chemistry teacher (lol) and ask exactly what is produced. If only the precipitate is a end product, then it's fine as long as you are VERY careful not to pour the bottom layer into the tank.

I still say the spare tank + carbon though....seems much easier. You could even set it up under a tap water outlet or something.

[Chrona]

wait, hang on. Are you saying that you can't have plants in a tank that uses a carbon filter? I have plants in my two tanks using carbon and they are growing fine. That's the first I have heard of that, unless I read your post wrong?

Well, the activated carbon debate amongst plant growers has been going on for a LONG time lol, but the jist is that some people say it removes trace elements (usually metals) in the water that plants need, and other say it doesn't. I personally, have tried both ways, and I noticed better plant growth the with carbon out (I was adding Flourish, a trace supplement, thoughout). Your mileage may vary though.

[jeffs99dime]

you can hook up a pump to the r.o. system to spped up the process. it should be running at about 65 psi (optimal)

[Glasstapper]

ah, well that's good info to know. I am planning a fully planted tank in the future, so that's very helpful. I'll probably experiment a bit with and without carbon, myself. Thanks for that little tidbit.


heh. You learn something new everyday.

[Chrona]

Heres an article detailed the use of chorines to break down tannins. Doesn't say anything about the side effects, but the article is about drinking water I believe.

[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

[Slinky_Bass]

ah, well that's good info to know. I am planning a fully planted tank in the future, so that's very helpful. I'll probably experiment a bit with and without carbon, myself. Thanks for that little tidbit.


heh. You learn something new everyday.
Hey Glasstapper, give no carbon a try. I removed all carbon from both my tanks, about a month ago, and I haven't had to add any new fertilizer yet (I was adding it quite often before).

My plants are looking lovely and green and healthy and my water is still crystal clear (if a little yellow from the tannins from all the bogwood). So far the carbon and it's expense has not been missed at all.

[*Sarah*]

Hmm, the filter I have for my 10 G (planted)has carbon right inside the floss media stuff...I can't just remove it. AND, right now I'm cycling with ammonia and plants. What should I do??? Should I replace the media with just regular floss stuff???? If so I'll be starting the cycling all over again, but I'm only 2 days in..let me know so I can go buy some new media today if needed.

[Chrona]

Hmm, the filter I have for my 10 G (planted)has carbon right inside the floss media stuff...I can't just remove it. AND, right now I'm cycling with ammonia and plants. What should I do??? Should I replace the media with just regular floss stuff???? If so I'll be starting the cycling all over again, but I'm only 2 days in..let me know so I can go buy some new media today if needed.

What filter is it? I know for the penguin and emperor filters, the carbon is built into the backing but floored (I think) posted a good way to take 2 of the filters and make a bigger, carbon free filter cartridge.

[*Sarah*]

It's a whisper 10. The cartridge that goes in is white cottony stuff on the outside and carbon sandwiched in the middle.

[Chrona]

It's a whisper 10. The cartridge that goes in is white cottony stuff on the outside and carbon sandwiched in the middle.

I've got the same thing on my 10 gallon planted. Next time you change the filter floss on it, just don't add the activated carbon. If you buy the pre-built packs, then just remove the clip and pour out the carbon.