Spring water? ReptiSafe treated tap water?

[NolaGirl]

Is it okay to use spring water to mist my cham's habitat? What do you guys think about using ReptiSafe to be able to use tap water for misting? We have hard water here in the New Orleans area.

 

[Decadancin]

If you are using an automated mister, I would use distilled water. The nozzles can build up residue. If misting by hand and you have hard water, the main concern is the residue this may leave on your enclosure. My advice for any tap water is to let is stand uncovered for at least 12 to 24 hours for the chlorine to dissipate and you should be fine. I haven't used Reptisafe, but I imagine it is a tap water conditioner like those used in aquariums? Some of the reefers may have advice!

 

[NolaGirl]

If you are using an automated mister, I would use distilled water. The nozzles can build up residue. If misting by hand and you have hard water, the main concern is the residue this may leave on your enclosure. My advice for any tap water is to let is stand uncovered for at least 12 to 24 hours for the chlorine to dissipate and you should be fine. I haven't used Reptisafe, but I imagine it is a tap water conditioner like those used in aquariums? Some of the reefers may have advice!

I don't have an automated mister yet. I have a baby Veiled and the enclosure is kind of small for an automated mister. I'll definitely be investing in one when I upgrade to a larger enclosure. I've been using spring water and purified drinking water in jugs. It does get pricey. I was just wondering if the minerals that are in the spring water would have any sort of ill effect on my cham. It would also be nice if the ReptiSafe is okay to use to purify the tap water. That would be a money saver.

 

[Carlton]

I don't have an automated mister yet. I have a baby Veiled and the enclosure is kind of small for an automated mister. I'll definitely be investing in one when I upgrade to a larger enclosure. I've been using spring water and purified drinking water in jugs. It does get pricey. I was just wondering if the minerals that are in the spring water would have any sort of ill effect on my cham. It would also be nice if the ReptiSafe is okay to use to purify the tap water. That would be a money saver.

Minerals in tap water that is safe for humans won't hurt your cham but they may clog your mister nozzles, ultrasonic foggers, and cause hard water deposits on your cage and your plants. ReptiSafe is primarily used to remove CHLORINE or CHLORAMINES from municipal tap water and to neutralize ammonia and nitrites (important for aquatics) but it doesn't remove anything else and it would not have any affect on mineral content.

 

[Carlton]

If you are using an automated mister, I would use distilled water. The nozzles can build up residue. If misting by hand and you have hard water, the main concern is the residue this may leave on your enclosure. My advice for any tap water is to let is stand uncovered for at least 12 to 24 hours for the chlorine to dissipate and you should be fine. I haven't used Reptisafe, but I imagine it is a tap water conditioner like those used in aquariums? Some of the reefers may have advice!

Letting water stand for 24 hours will get rid of chlorine, but it will NOT get rid of chloramines which are also used to treat municipal water. You may have to call your utility to find out which one they use.

 

[Decadancin]

Letting water stand for 24 hours will get rid of chlorine, but it will NOT get rid of chloramines which are also used to treat municipal water. You may have to call your utility to find out which one they use.

Good point. I think there are some kits available for this also, and your local utility website should have the breakdown.

 

[Carlton]

Good point. I think there are some kits available for this also, and your local utility website should have the breakdown.

An aquarium supply would probably have test kits for them but I'm not certain.

 

[NolaGirl]

Letting water stand for 24 hours will get rid of chlorine, but it will NOT get rid of chloramines which are also used to treat municipal water. You may have to call your utility to find out which one they use.

So, if I let the tap water sit out for 24 hrs. and use the ReptiSafe, all chlorine and chloramines should disappear? I just want to make sure that ReptiSafe is okay for the cham to ingest.

 

[Carlton]

Is it okay to use spring water to mist my cham's habitat? What do you guys think about using ReptiSafe to be able to use tap water for misting? We have hard water here in the New Orleans area.

BTW, "spring" water has minerals in it, but how much depends on the source. The minerals contribute to its hardness. To most people, hard water tastes better than soft, distilled, or demineralized water (it's why they can taste flat).

 

[Carlton]

So, if I let the tap water sit out for 24 hrs. and use the ReptiSafe, all chlorine and chloramines should disappear? I just want to make sure that ReptiSafe is okay for the cham to ingest.

If you are going to use the ReptiSafe you don't need to let the water sit longer than the instructions say.

 

[NolaGirl]

I know that "spring" water contains minerals. I was just wondering if the minerals that are in the spring water would have any sort of ill effect on my cham. The ReptiSafe directions say that it works immediately.