Question about water storage for WC's

[Steve]

Now that I have the big tank up I've been thinking about what will be the best/most economical way to handle weekly water changes on that tank. I've been thinking about getting a rubbermaid trash can on wheels and having a bubbler in it to help avoid the need to use a declorinator because I'm sure I'd be spending a small fortune on declor doing WC's on a tank this size, but I have a couple questions about doing water storage like that.

I know the bubbler will get rid of any chlorine after a day or so, but what about any chloramine? would I still need to treat it for that? and what about any heavy metals would I still have to use water conditioner because of those? For those of you that use a water storage container, what do you do to treat your water?

[Marty]

Chloramine doesn't break down as easily, but you're on the Detroit water system, and last I checked, they don't use chloramine. One way you can get rid of chlorine is by agitation.  So if you spray the water into the tank as opposed to just sticking a hose in, that has the effect of releasing the chlorine from the water.

[Steve]

Marty where did you find the info on what they put in the local water supply? I've been trying to find that since last summer and I can find all sorts of links for Oakland county water supply but none of the ones I can find seem to actually tell what is added to it.

[Marty]

Google water report and your city.  Every water department is required to maintain records.

[Steve]

Yep that's what I have done in the past for Royal Oak, but never could find anything about Chlorimine or Clorine and such. I'll have to try it again and see, maybe I just skimmed over it.

[Matt1628]

Here it is Steve, http://www.ci.royal-oak.mi.us/webfm_send/3055
I have a 180 gallon tank and I use seachem safe to treat the water.  I mix it in a five gallon bucket and dump it into the tank after draining the water out and fill it back up with water straight from the tap. Dosage is a teaspoon to treat 200 gallons.  A 1kilogram jar should treat about 40,000 gallons.

http://www.bigalspets.com/safe-1-kg.html

[LanaK]

FYI - if you are on Ann Arbor City Water, they do use Chloramines - http://www.a2gov.org/departments/water-treatment/Pages/treatment.aspx (very bottom)

[Thriftyfisher]

I haven't treated my water for years.  Grand Rapids uses chlorine as they say it is a lot cheaper than chloramine.  I always age my water for at least 24 hours in 65 gallon pickle barrels (usually it is more like 2 days).  I have 3 of them which really is about 160-170 gallons.  During the winter you really need to de-gas the water more than worry about chlorine ageing it does that.  I have not had any ill effects from not treating the water.  If you age it you will also not get bubbles forming on the glass and plants.  To put it into my tanks, I have a small submersible pond pump with 1/2" tubing and just pump it into the tanks.  Ageing also lets the water warm up and then you don't need to use water from your hot water tank (which I always try to avoid). 

Chloramine is much more difficult to dissipate.  I found this link from Tampa Bay water http://www.tampabaywater.org/monochloramine-information-for-fish-owners.aspx and this was also a pretty good read http://www.skepticalaquarist.com/chlorine-chloramine