A Special thanks to those of you who demonstrate their commitment to "teamwork"in our adventure of Aquarium keeping. 

We are now a Living Color Distributor!

Water Quality  

Regarding "top off" water:

If you are doing your own "top offs" to replace evaporated water and you are not using reverse osmosis or other highly filtered water,  please run the tap for a few minutes prior to adding to tank.  This will help clear the lines of some of the impurities that (usually) are sitting in the lines just waiting to contaminate your system!  Of course you will also need to add a conditioner (such as Prime)to remove chlorine and chloramine.

More on Water quality:

No doubt you have been keeping up on developments in recent years pertaining
to our areas water quality woes.   It appears that our local municipalities are just barely keeping our drinking water at safe levels.   Unfortunately, these  "safe"  levels can still affect  our aquarium inhabitants.   There is also a propensity for these Total Dissolved Solids  (TDS's)  - both organic and chemical to grow many algaes including the dreaded cynobacterial blooms.   This happens when water treatment processes aren't able to remove all TDS's (and they don't).   Phosphates in particular present the most problems.   Organics follow as number two culprits. 

So ,  this "undertreated" water, when removed of its chlorine and chloramines (for use in your aquarium)  feeds many  pathogens and algaes which are already present in all aquarium water.  

R/O (reverse osmosis) water :

You may want to contemplate using Reverse osmosis (R/O) water.

Serious consideration should be given to using such a system for your own drinking and cooking needs as well!

R/O systems come in all price ranges and be be purchased at your local home improvement store.   Of course, you can purchase one from us and will will handle the installation.

We can even help you design a system for your household needs as well as for your fish.

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Rinse those hands !