Question about new Dechlorinator

[Gizaroo]

Hi all,

I found out from a fish forum that I am on that the TopFin Dechlorinator actually does not remove heavy metals from water. (Even though it advertises that it does!) Some members on there informed me that the only ingredients in it removed chlorine, chloramine and ammonia. They told me to switch to a brand called Prime, as it is one of the best Dechlor/heavy metal removers available.

The reason for the switch was that my freshwater snails kept dying...and I couldn't figure out why. All my water stats were fine, and aside from very slightly raised nitrate levels, they should not have died. The only thing we could figure it could be is that the well water we have may have some copper in it, and that is fatal to snails...even in very tiny quantities.

This should be safe for my crabs, correct? If so, they will be getting this switch as well!

I figured I'd post this to let all those out there using the TopFin Dechlorinator to not rely on it as a heavy metal remover.

[Wai]

I use API and that has worked pretty well so far, although the tap water here isn't vigorously treated like many other places in the world.

[ladybug15057]

Gizaroo2 99% of the pipes somewhere or another in U.S. and Canada have copper pipes that their water travel through. This alone can have a certain percentage of copper that does leech into the water. Older homes... the more they leech.
This is why I use and do recommend using distilled water. No guesses and no worries, especially since our public water company also adds fluoride to our water and no tap water conditioner can either remove or neutralize it. Because of expense and 'haul' reasons I too use the API tap water conditioner to rinse and dip certain tank items in after washing in tap water.
Does the prime mention anywhere that it has a slime coating within it?

[Gizaroo]

Gizaroo2 99% of the pipes somewhere or another in U.S. and Canada have copper pipes that their water travel through. This alone can have a certain percentage of copper that does leech into the water. Older homes... the more they leech.
This is why I use and do recommend using distilled water. No guesses and no worries, especially since our public water company also adds fluoride to our water and no tap water conditioner can either remove or neutralize it. Because of expense and 'haul' reasons I too use the API tap water conditioner to rinse and dip certain tank items in after washing in tap water.
Does the prime mention anywhere that it has a slime coating within it?

Man, yea it does say it has slime coating in it. Oh well. I'll have to get some API. Yea I know alot of homes have copper pipes running through them. Most of ours were replaced with other piping when we added onto our house. I know there is copper somewhere along the line as there is a blue circle where the water hits the bottom of the tub. I'll have to start getting my water from the kitchen..I'm pretty sure there is no copper piping in the lines directly feeding the sink, and I usually let the water run for a bit before filling my jug.

I may have to start getting distilled water, but I go through it like crazy, and have nowhere to store it. My water supply for my crabs is generally also my water supply for my fish tanks-which are 2.5 gallons and I have to do water changes 2-3 times a week currently.

Oh well lol. I'll figure out something. In the meantime, I do have a jug of distilled water floating around I can use.

[Gizaroo]

I use API and that has worked pretty well so far, although the tap water here isn't vigorously treated like many other places in the world.

Our water isn't treated with anything, so aside from the copper and any other natural minerals it may have in it, it's quite clean. I'll have to give API a shot.

[ladybug15057]

I may have to start getting distilled water, but I go through it like crazy, and have nowhere to store it.

How large are your hermies water ponds?

I'm pretty sure there is no copper piping in the lines directly feeding the sink,

Do you know what types of pipes bring the water from the well to the house? Most times this is not a plastic pipe.

[Gizaroo]

I may have to start getting distilled water, but I go through it like crazy, and have nowhere to store it.

How large are your hermies water ponds?

I'm pretty sure there is no copper piping in the lines directly feeding the sink,

Do you know what types of pipes bring the water from the well to the house? Most times this is not a plastic pipe.

The ones in the ten gallon tank are about an inch deep and 3-4 inches in diameter.
The ones in the 5.5 gal tank are smaller, and require very frequent refills, as the crabs often knock them over. It's not the crabs that I go through alot for-maybe 1/2 gal of fresh and 1/2 gal salt water every week...it's because I use the same water for them as for changing my fish tanks that I go through it so quickly lol. I just need to change my habits and get distilled water for the hermies and use the Prime Dechlorinator in a jug just for the fish tanks.

I don't know about the pipes leading from the well. They could be copper, they could be something else. I suspect they are probably copper, even though my dad insists we don't have any copper pipes anymore.

[ladybug15057]

I suspect they are probably copper, even though my dad insists we don't have any copper pipes anymore.

He maybe right too, I know with public water they use some form of a metal type pipe for the main water line. A friend of mine who lives in the country and has a farm has a well. From her well to her home she has some form of metal pipes too with partly copper in her home as well as plastic.

[Gizaroo]

I suspect they are probably copper, even though my dad insists we don't have any copper pipes anymore.

He maybe right too, I know with public water they use some form of a metal type pipe for the main water line. A friend of mine who lives in the country and has a farm has a well. From her well to her home she has some form of metal pipes too with partly copper in her home as well as plastic.

I suspect that is what's goin on. I'll just switch to distilled water and not worry about it lol.

[Gizaroo]

I got 2 gal jugs of distilled water; one for fresh and one for salt. I also picked up some API water conditioner.