tap water

[zombiepixel]

is it safe to use or should it be treated with something first?

 

[Metric]

generally you should allow the water to distill (leave it out for 24hours+) to allow the chlorine and various additives to evaporate.

I think boiling works to, but i just use distilled water since i always have some at hand for my aquariums. Unless you know your tap water quality is close to godly, I'd probably distill it.

 

[zombiepixel]

So I can purchase a gallon of distilled water and just use that for both my habba mister and the drip cup?

 

[Zen Reptiles]

OH NOES! Not this topic again.
/limp wrist


Distilled water=taking the steam of boiled water, so although Metric is one
of my favorite bands, what they described above is just 'aging' tap water, not distilling.

Although many people use aged tap water, I strongly advise against it.
However, it really does depend on the quality of your tap water, which
is different in every single city that exists. If you have a top-of-the-line
filter system in your city, then aged tap water shouldn't be a problem....
if you live downstream from ranchland, have an outdated filter system,
have very old and outdated pipes, or have the possibility of burst pipes
anywhere in your city where stuff can get in, or if you are ever on boil advisories,
or anything questionable, then use reverse osmosis or bottled water.

You can buy any quantity of distilled water, maybe add something to it
like calcium (Exo-Terra makes liquid calcium conditioner for reptiles).

 

[zombiepixel]

alright sweet, i'll start using distilled water than. I'll look for the Exo-Terra liquid calcium conditioner when I get temp crickets tomorrow.

 

[sandrachameleon]

It Really depends where you live, and the quality of the water that comes from the tap. Tap water is FINE for most people. I have used tap water for both my chameleons and fish and birds and cats and frogs and ME and none of us have had any ill effects.
I wouldn't use distilled water, as it is devoid of all necessary nutrients/minerals.

Lots of previous threads on this topic:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/chlorine-water-10131/
https://www.chameleonforums.com/tap-water-19911/
https://www.chameleonforums.com/tap-water-additive-18104/
https://www.chameleonforums.com/water-17652/
https://www.chameleonforums.com/chlorine-water-10131/

 

[Brad Ramsey]

It definitely depends on your city's water treatment facility.
In Denver I have always used water straight out of the tap with no issues.
We don't even treat it for the fish.
Bottled water is not any better than tap water here. The levels of fecal bacteria are within the allowable range, but definitely present.
Distilled water is not that great of an option either as it is missing a lot of beneficial minerals.
So, I really don't think a general answer is available ... it really does depend on where you live.

-Brad

 

[zombiepixel]

well..

i'll just dump the water in the mister right now and replace with filtered tap for tonight, I believe I live in a very up-to-date smaller city, so i would think my water quality probably isn't as bad as other places.

I see a lot of people with differing opinions, If your tap water is horrible, distilled is no bueno unless you add minerals, and filtered or "aged" tap is also bad, what is the 100% safe answer? Reverse Osmosis?

 

[Brad Ramsey]

There may not be a 100% safe answer.
My guess is that your tap water will be fine.

-Brad