Does using an automatic water filler (which is constantly topping off the
water level with city chlorinated water) mess with the bio environment of
our water or do we HAVE to use a charcoal filter?

"Randy" wrote:

Does using an automatic water filler (which is constantly topping off the
water level with city chlorinated water) mess with the bio environment of
our water or do we HAVE to use a charcoal filter?

I say no, because:

a) the amount of water topped off is small, per day
b) you specify clorine, and not the nastier cloramine

But would it not depend upon how Much water is being
topped off?? I think I would add some DeChlor every
other day or so- just to be sure the Chlorine wasn't poisoning
the pond.
FWIW....

Nedra
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836
http://community.webshots.com/user/nedra118

"John Hines" wrote in message
...
"Randy" wrote:

Does using an automatic water filler (which is constantly topping off the
water level with city chlorinated water) mess with the bio environment of
our water or do we HAVE to use a charcoal filter?

I say no, because:

a) the amount of water topped off is small, per day
b) you specify clorine, and not the nastier cloramine

Now I'm starting to worry about something I've never had on my "worry list"
before. I've NEVER added anything like dechlor to my pond, and I do
partial water changes and topoffs often. The pond is about 4000 gallons,
and every time I do a skimmer/pump/filter cleaning (about every week or
maybe a little less) I let a lot of water run out of the pond. I let it go
down 4 or 5 inches at these times, and when I was installing the skimmer a
month or two ago I let a LOT more out than that. Then I fill it back up
with the hose and don't worry about it. I've never lost a fish, and the
water looks clean and clear 80% of the time. Should I be worried, or is
there enough volume in my pond to dilute the topoffs?
Sue

"Nedra" wrote in message
thlink.net...
But would it not depend upon how Much water is being
topped off?? I think I would add some DeChlor every
other day or so- just to be sure the Chlorine wasn't poisoning
the pond.
FWIW....

Nedra
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836
http://community.webshots.com/user/nedra118

"John Hines" wrote in message
...
"Randy" wrote:

Does using an automatic water filler (which is constantly topping off
the
water level with city chlorinated water) mess with the bio environment
of
our water or do we HAVE to use a charcoal filter?

I say no, because:

a) the amount of water topped off is small, per day
b) you specify clorine, and not the nastier cloramine

Ok then as John says,

What if my question was the same but in regard to chloramines?


"Randy" wrote in message
thlink.net...
Does using an automatic water filler (which is constantly topping off the
water level with city chlorinated water) mess with the bio environment of
our water or do we HAVE to use a charcoal filter?

Sue,

I would say you have been mostly lucky. Chlorine and chloramine are
oxidizers similar to PP and as such they are spent digesting bacteria and
other things in the pond in fairly short order. The problem comes in that
the amount that is added is usually added faster than it is consumed and the
chlorine/chloramine build up to a measurable level and start to burn the
gills of the fish. For small water additions, of less than say 5% then the
amount that is able to build up in the system is small enough that it
probably doesn't harm the fish. Doesn't do them any good either. The
chlorine will work on the bacteria in the filter system, setting it back
from a little to a lot, depending on the amount of water added and
chlorine/chloramine level in the water. I don't care how much water I add,
I always add dechlor. I have the automatic fill valve, but have never
gotten around to using it. It fits behind the filter pad in my skimmer and
when the pad gets clogged, the water level behind the pad falls, so it is
possible to overfill a pond.
--
RichToyBox
http://www.geocities.com/richtoybox/pondintro.html


"Sue Alexandre" wrote in message
news:kLtEa.14361$_Z1.5689@lakeread04...
Now I'm starting to worry about something I've never had on my "worry
list"
before. I've NEVER added anything like dechlor to my pond, and I do
partial water changes and topoffs often. The pond is about 4000
gallons,
and every time I do a skimmer/pump/filter cleaning (about every week or
maybe a little less) I let a lot of water run out of the pond. I let it
go
down 4 or 5 inches at these times, and when I was installing the skimmer a
month or two ago I let a LOT more out than that. Then I fill it back up
with the hose and don't worry about it. I've never lost a fish, and the
water looks clean and clear 80% of the time. Should I be worried, or is
there enough volume in my pond to dilute the topoffs?
Sue

"Nedra" wrote in message
thlink.net...
But would it not depend upon how Much water is being
topped off?? I think I would add some DeChlor every
other day or so- just to be sure the Chlorine wasn't poisoning
the pond.
FWIW....

Nedra
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836
http://community.webshots.com/user/nedra118

"John Hines" wrote in message
...
"Randy" wrote:

Does using an automatic water filler (which is constantly topping off
the
water level with city chlorinated water) mess with the bio
environment
of
our water or do we HAVE to use a charcoal filter?

I say no, because:

a) the amount of water topped off is small, per day
b) you specify clorine, and not the nastier cloramine

"Nedra" wrote:

But would it not depend upon how Much water is being
topped off?? I think I would add some DeChlor every
other day or so- just to be sure the Chlorine wasn't poisoning
the pond.

Yes.

With auto-topoff the amount should be small, under 10% per day.

Adding some declor, just in case, is good. So is using activated carbon
in your filter system, either before, or after the water hits the pond.

In article ,
John Hines wrote:

"Nedra" wrote:

But would it not depend upon how Much water is being
topped off?? I think I would add some DeChlor every
other day or so- just to be sure the Chlorine wasn't poisoning
the pond.

Yes.

With auto-topoff the amount should be small, under 10% per day.

Adding some declor, just in case, is good. So is using activated carbon
in your filter system, either before, or after the water hits the pond.



I'd suggest that the muni water supply that feeds the auto-fill be
almost closed, it does not need to refill the ponds in 1 min. Let it
work all day.

Put the auto-fill in a covered vault, debris can fall on the float and
cause it to cycle the water in the pond... another good reason to have
the feed line just barely on.

jay
Sat, Jun 7, 2003


--

Legend insists that as he finished his abject...
Galileo muttered under his breath: "Nevertheless, it does move."

"Randy" wrote:

Ok then as John says,

What if my question was the same but in regard to chloramines?

Then you'll most likely need a filter and/or more aggressive de-clor
treatment.

The simple tricks don't work with cloramines.

Randy,

My water dept uses Chloramine ... 3 ppm. I always use
AmQuel to combat the Chloramine effects.

Nedra
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836
http://community.webshots.com/user/nedra118

"Randy" wrote in message
thlink.net...
Ok then as John says,

What if my question was the same but in regard to chloramines?


"Randy" wrote in message
thlink.net...
Does using an automatic water filler (which is constantly topping off
the
water level with city chlorinated water) mess with the bio environment
of
our water or do we HAVE to use a charcoal filter?

It depends on how much the water department added chlorine and chloramines. In
SoCal, my tap water was quite clean. My parents did 100% water change and no
fish died. There were 6 4" koi and 2 3" GF in a 20 gallon aquarium. The city
raised the level a few months ago. Someone lost a bunch of Koi because of water
change.

The water in Las Vegas is nasty. I can smell the chloramines when I'm near the
tap water. The bathroom always smell, due to the chloramines in an enclosed
area. My friend killed all his koi when he forgot to turn off the tap during top
off.

Sue Alexandre wrote:

Now I'm starting to worry about something I've never had on my "worry list"
before. I've NEVER added anything like dechlor to my pond, and I do
partial water changes and topoffs often. The pond is about 4000 gallons,
and every time I do a skimmer/pump/filter cleaning (about every week or
maybe a little less) I let a lot of water run out of the pond. I let it go
down 4 or 5 inches at these times, and when I was installing the skimmer a
month or two ago I let a LOT more out than that. Then I fill it back up
with the hose and don't worry about it. I've never lost a fish, and the
water looks clean and clear 80% of the time. Should I be worried, or is
there enough volume in my pond to dilute the topoffs?
Sue

Thanks.... sounds like something I need to look into, maybe a call to City
Hall. I know what you mean about being able to smell the
chlorine/chloramine in water in some homes, I have experienced that, but
never in this house. Think I'll stick one of those water-testing test
strips in some tap water and see if anything registers..... not the most
accurate method, but if the level is terribly high, it might tell me that,
right?
Sue

"Sean Dinh" wrote in message
...
It depends on how much the water department added chlorine and
chloramines. In
SoCal, my tap water was quite clean. My parents did 100% water change and
no
fish died. There were 6 4" koi and 2 3" GF in a 20 gallon aquarium. The
city
raised the level a few months ago. Someone lost a bunch of Koi because of
water
change.

The water in Las Vegas is nasty. I can smell the chloramines when I'm near
the
tap water. The bathroom always smell, due to the chloramines in an
enclosed
area. My friend killed all his koi when he forgot to turn off the tap
during top
off.

Sue Alexandre wrote:

Now I'm starting to worry about something I've never had on my "worry
list"
before. I've NEVER added anything like dechlor to my pond, and I do
partial water changes and topoffs often. The pond is about 4000
gallons,
and every time I do a skimmer/pump/filter cleaning (about every week or
maybe a little less) I let a lot of water run out of the pond. I let
it go
down 4 or 5 inches at these times, and when I was installing the skimmer
a
month or two ago I let a LOT more out than that. Then I fill it back up
with the hose and don't worry about it. I've never lost a fish, and
the
water looks clean and clear 80% of the time. Should I be worried, or
is
there enough volume in my pond to dilute the topoffs?
Sue

Make the phone call!! No way a test kit is going to be as
accurate. Put the AmQuel - if its chloramines you want to
kill - or DeChlor if its Chlorine. Please put the AmQuel/
DeChlor in the pond as you fill it .... not afterward.

Nedra
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836
http://community.webshots.com/user/nedra118

"Sue Alexandre" wrote in message
news:XVZEa.17217$_Z1.15051@lakeread04...
Thanks.... sounds like something I need to look into, maybe a call to City
Hall. I know what you mean about being able to smell the
chlorine/chloramine in water in some homes, I have experienced that, but
never in this house. Think I'll stick one of those water-testing test
strips in some tap water and see if anything registers..... not the most
accurate method, but if the level is terribly high, it might tell me that,
right?
Sue

"Sean Dinh" wrote in message
...
It depends on how much the water department added chlorine and
chloramines. In
SoCal, my tap water was quite clean. My parents did 100% water change
and
no
fish died. There were 6 4" koi and 2 3" GF in a 20 gallon aquarium. The
city
raised the level a few months ago. Someone lost a bunch of Koi because
of
water
change.

The water in Las Vegas is nasty. I can smell the chloramines when I'm
near
the
tap water. The bathroom always smell, due to the chloramines in an
enclosed
area. My friend killed all his koi when he forgot to turn off the tap
during top
off.

Sue Alexandre wrote:

Now I'm starting to worry about something I've never had on my "worry
list"
before. I've NEVER added anything like dechlor to my pond, and I do
partial water changes and topoffs often. The pond is about 4000
gallons,
and every time I do a skimmer/pump/filter cleaning (about every week
or
maybe a little less) I let a lot of water run out of the pond. I let
it go
down 4 or 5 inches at these times, and when I was installing the
skimmer
a
month or two ago I let a LOT more out than that. Then I fill it back
up
with the hose and don't worry about it. I've never lost a fish, and
the
water looks clean and clear 80% of the time. Should I be worried, or
is
there enough volume in my pond to dilute the topoffs?
Sue

What about an emitter from a drip system?

This would slowly add water when a cleaning was done and also add fresh
water continually.

We are talking 1/2 gal/h to start.

At this rate the chemicals should not be a problem.

Tom


"Nedra" wrote in message
thlink.net...
Make the phone call!! No way a test kit is going to be as
accurate. Put the AmQuel - if its chloramines you want to
kill - or DeChlor if its Chlorine. Please put the AmQuel/
DeChlor in the pond as you fill it .... not afterward.

Nedra
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836
http://community.webshots.com/user/nedra118

"Sue Alexandre" wrote in message
news:XVZEa.17217$_Z1.15051@lakeread04...
Thanks.... sounds like something I need to look into, maybe a call to
City
Hall. I know what you mean about being able to smell the
chlorine/chloramine in water in some homes, I have experienced that, but
never in this house. Think I'll stick one of those water-testing test
strips in some tap water and see if anything registers..... not the most
accurate method, but if the level is terribly high, it might tell me
that,
right?
Sue

"Sean Dinh" wrote in message
...
It depends on how much the water department added chlorine and
chloramines. In
SoCal, my tap water was quite clean. My parents did 100% water change
and
no
fish died. There were 6 4" koi and 2 3" GF in a 20 gallon aquarium.
The
city
raised the level a few months ago. Someone lost a bunch of Koi because
of
water
change.

The water in Las Vegas is nasty. I can smell the chloramines when I'm
near
the
tap water. The bathroom always smell, due to the chloramines in an
enclosed
area. My friend killed all his koi when he forgot to turn off the tap
during top
off.

Sue Alexandre wrote:

Now I'm starting to worry about something I've never had on my
"worry
list"
before. I've NEVER added anything like dechlor to my pond, and I
do
partial water changes and topoffs often. The pond is about 4000
gallons,
and every time I do a skimmer/pump/filter cleaning (about every week
or
maybe a little less) I let a lot of water run out of the pond. I
let
it go
down 4 or 5 inches at these times, and when I was installing the
skimmer
a
month or two ago I let a LOT more out than that. Then I fill it
back
up
with the hose and don't worry about it. I've never lost a fish,
and
the
water looks clean and clear 80% of the time. Should I be worried,
or
is
there enough volume in my pond to dilute the topoffs?
Sue

Read BV's post!! He did this and ended up Killing half
of his fish. I would never take a chance on negating the effects
of Chlorine or Chloramine. It just isn't worth it.
Use the DeChlor!!!!!!

Nedra
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836
http://community.webshots.com/user/nedra118

"Thomas Ball" wrote in message
...
What about an emitter from a drip system?

This would slowly add water when a cleaning was done and also add fresh
water continually.

We are talking 1/2 gal/h to start.

At this rate the chemicals should not be a problem.

Tom


"Nedra" wrote in message
thlink.net...
Make the phone call!! No way a test kit is going to be as
accurate. Put the AmQuel - if its chloramines you want to
kill - or DeChlor if its Chlorine. Please put the AmQuel/
DeChlor in the pond as you fill it .... not afterward.

Nedra
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836
http://community.webshots.com/user/nedra118

"Sue Alexandre" wrote in message
news:XVZEa.17217$_Z1.15051@lakeread04...
Thanks.... sounds like something I need to look into, maybe a call to
City
Hall. I know what you mean about being able to smell the
chlorine/chloramine in water in some homes, I have experienced that,
but
never in this house. Think I'll stick one of those water-testing
test
strips in some tap water and see if anything registers..... not the
most
accurate method, but if the level is terribly high, it might tell me
that,
right?
Sue

"Sean Dinh" wrote in message
...
It depends on how much the water department added chlorine and
chloramines. In
SoCal, my tap water was quite clean. My parents did 100% water
change
and
no
fish died. There were 6 4" koi and 2 3" GF in a 20 gallon aquarium.
The
city
raised the level a few months ago. Someone lost a bunch of Koi
because
of
water
change.

The water in Las Vegas is nasty. I can smell the chloramines when
I'm
near
the
tap water. The bathroom always smell, due to the chloramines in an
enclosed
area. My friend killed all his koi when he forgot to turn off the
tap
during top
off.

Sue Alexandre wrote:

Now I'm starting to worry about something I've never had on my
"worry
list"
before. I've NEVER added anything like dechlor to my pond, and I
do
partial water changes and topoffs often. The pond is about 4000
gallons,
and every time I do a skimmer/pump/filter cleaning (about every
week
or
maybe a little less) I let a lot of water run out of the pond. I
let
it go
down 4 or 5 inches at these times, and when I was installing the
skimmer
a
month or two ago I let a LOT more out than that. Then I fill it
back
up
with the hose and don't worry about it. I've never lost a fish,
and
the
water looks clean and clear 80% of the time. Should I be
worried,
or
is
there enough volume in my pond to dilute the topoffs?
Sue