Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

:) hello is it allright to top up my tanks with tap water?

as long as it isn't more than 20% or so, i would say yes

So long as it is not water from the Yarra you should be OK

I have added 50% with Perth had an issue. Disclaimer - I have Silver Perch which are apparently rather hardy.

Hello Cam007! Your tap water will contain chlorine so, unless you are just adding a small percentage of your overall volume, I suggest that you spray the water into your tanks. My understanding is that this allows much of the chlorine to dissipate into the atmosphere in gaseous form, rather than circulating through your fish's gills for the couple of days or so that it takes the water to off-gas.

Alternatively you could add a water 'ageing' solution or conditioner, but when I was on scheme water I never bothered with these treatments for ponds nor aquariums. Spraying the water seemed to work fine.

Depends if your local supplier adds chloramines or not. Chlorine can be dissipated by aeration, sunlight and ageing (letting it stand a few days) and the combination will remove it quick smart. Chloramines are added precisely because chlorine dissipates quickly.

I added about 150L or so of Bendigo chlorine AND chloramine water to about 400L of FT and killed 2 large goldfish (out of 2 and in about an hour) so check. I use an additive now before I add any tap water to the tank and my SP's and catfish are all doing well.

Good point, Journeyman. As far as I know, chloramines have never been introduced to scheme water in Perth, although Kalgoorlie water gets dosed via the pipeline.

Which additive do you use to break down the chloramine?


BTW, I stayed overnight in Bendigo last Tuesday! I lived there for a few years in the '80s.

Please don't encourage him....

Here in California we have chlorimines, I top up with it no problems. A little at a time is not an issue.

Haha, I have just read a puzzling thread on evolution and understand your tears, however, good science should not be silenced.

Yep... but you can't put the words "good science"... and "insert product name here"..... in the same sentence....

That's one of the reasons I object to the product often named... and most others... there's NO science to back their claims....

Which makes me wonder why Journeyman is so dead keen on the product... shit, it claims to do everything, all at once... except turn lead into gold...

thanks everybody for your tips on adding water to my tanks
I just need to top them up a little bit so I will
Spray it in I think

How about potassium? Isn't that suppose to help with chlorine/chloramine plus fertilize at the same time?

My statement was ambiguous to say the least. I was actually referring to the good science that seems to be developing, amidst some robust discussion, on Journeyman's evolution thread.

RoO has a thing about Seachem's Prime - personally I have never claimed anything except that it breaks down chloramines and allows me to use tap water to top up my tanks while I wait for a good rainwater supply. And the Science IS there for it breaking down chloramine.

I'm not sure where he goes to read other claims about it but it sure don't come from me. I killed 2 robust goldfish and since then i have done larger water changes with zero ill effects on SP's and catfish. If it works, I use it; killing fish isn't why I got into AP.

Glad someone else is enjoying that other thread...