How to De-Chlorinate Water
Fish are some of the most peaceful, relaxing pets to own. They do not rush to greet you each time that you enter the house and you can not feel their heart beat or have them lick your hand, yet anyone that has owned an aquarium of any size can tell you how enjoyable fish are as pets.
One of the challenges of owning fish as pets is providing them with the right kind of environment for them to live in. Many people buy beautiful fish from the pet shop and within no time find the fish floating at the top of the fish tank because they did not know how to properly care for them or provide the right environment for them.
Sodium Thiosulphate
The most common chemical treatment for de-chlorination is Sodium Thiosulphate. This is a popular solution because it is inexpensive and easy to utilize. If you have a small aquarium, you want a de-chlorination solution that is easy to implement and hassle-free otherwise it is not worth the time.
Heavy aeration is not the most effective form of de-chlorination because it can not remove chloramine. In addition to this, it is a very slow process. Therefore if you are looking for a solution that is efficient and hassle-free this is not the one. Heavy aeration involves using large bubble diffusers that dissipate the chlorine into the air.
Carbon Filters
Activated carbon filters, also known as carbon filters are great for removing both chlorine and chloramine and therefore are good for almost any situation. Large amounts of the filters are usually necessary to do an effective job however the benefits are that they not only remove chlorine and chloramine but other compounds in the water as well.
Lastly, the UV radiation method is extremely effective at eliminating both chlorine and chloramine. It also has a hygienic advantage over other types of filters since the other filters can harbor bacteria in them and ultimately end up contaminating the water. The down side to UV radiation as a de-chlorination method is that it is quite expensive.
You ultimately have to weigh up the pros and cons of each de-chlorination system to come up with what works for you. You should choose your solution based on the type of treatment that the water in your area receives as well as based on your needs as an owner of fish. You may even want to try various methods if you are serious about keeping and breeding fish.
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