Under Faucet Filter

[Bruckm]

Ok, I just realized that I could be using the mini-faucet that runs from my GE water filter to do water changes. What additives, if any would I need if the claims on the package are true?


This GE water filter cartridge removes:

99% of Chemicals/VOCs
90% of Mercury (6.5pH)
97% of Chlorine
98% of Lead
99.99% of Cysts (what's a Cyst)
99% of Turbidity
99% of Asbestos
Particulates 0.5-1.0 micron
Does Not Remove Flouride

 

[catfishmike]

why don't you try a search on the effectiveness of activated carbon and deionizing resisns and decide if you would even want to drink the water after you run it through that faucet filter.i can't remember any of the links right now(i'll find them eventualy)but most sources show activated carbon being used up very quickly,link in less that a week.that means your drinking tap water after just a few quarts of water.not a bargain compaired to r/o water.plus most municapal water sources are cleaner than you think if you live in the states.have you gone to the local water athoritys office for any documentaion.they could probably tell more about your water than you could ever want to know

 

[Bruckm]

Yes, i have gotten their report. It's municipal water. It doesn't however have the Texas seal of approval. Basically, if it's water and it runs through a tube it gets the seal of approval here. Hence the rationale for purchasing the filter. That's not really my point. I'm not concerned about the water we're drinking as much as the water going into the aquarium. That sounds bad, but you know what I mean.

Would I still need to add the dechlor? No, right? Just put it in a container, get it to the correct temperature and pop it into the tank? Or are you saying that after a VERY brief amount of time the filter isn't really filtering anyway?

 

[catfishmike]

yes,i was saying that it's very likly that your faucet filter only filters the water for a breif time.if you ask most of the members on this board,many of us have come to the concensus that activated carbon is junk,due to the fact that it has a very short life in terms of fitration capacity.i have read anywhere from 12 hours to three days.like i said before if i could find those links it would be a bit more convincing.now mind you i'm not trying to talk you out of using i'm just encouraging you to be sure that it would be a cost effective method of fitration in the long run.i wouldn't want you to think that everything your doing is all hunky dory and have an adverse problem later on down the road.and it be on my words.it's also very possible that whatever is in your faucet filter is a better material than carbon and it really does what it says.either way i would still use dechlor.a small bottle of seachem's prime is only 3 bucks and some change at my local petsmart.prime is very concentrated and a few drops goes a long way.a small investment for peace of mind.

 

[catfishmike]

try these i just found these dredging through old threads
http://www.drhelm.com/aquarium/carbon.html
http://nucalf.physics.fsu.edu/pfohl/Fish/Marine/General/gac

 

[Jaybug]

At my work we use reverse osmosis water as a means for diluting samples without effecting the results. The conductivity of tap water around here is 50 micro mhos. After running through the r.o. unit the water is @ 1 micro mho. It removes much silica. There is no carbon, or ion exchange resins inside.
Things that use resins are called softeners. They do not remove chemicals, but induce the calcium and magnesium molecules to not adhere to piping so much.
Are you adding bags of salt to your filter? Does your filter only produce a hundreds of gallons per day? If yes, you have a softener. And use dechlor.
An r.o. unit removes all beneficial minerals as well as Chlorine. And can leach minerals from the bones of your fish.
Good Luck