I suspect I have really bad city water. In fact, I just requested a water quality report from the town, so we'll see what kinds of things they add and allow in the water.

Even so, since water testing has now become a way of life around here, I am wondering if there are other things I should be testing for. For instance, I see that copper is not good for koi, and I suspect it would be bad for goldfish, too. And I've never been quite certain if I should worry about lead leaching out of my clay pots. Are there other metals that I should be concerned about? I'm on a mission to try to get my water quality good - in case you haven't noticed I've been posting here madly this morning.

Thanks for any ideas you can share with me here!

I see it's been a few days... did you get the water quality report? I've never heard of such a thing, but it makes sense that you could get that info. BTW, if you live in Boston it's likely that your water comes to you in ancient WOODEN pipes...

A_Penguin,

That is interesting about the water in wooden pipes in Boston. How did you know that little fact!??

No, I'm not in Boston, but in another large, old city, Worcester - so they may have wooden pipes, too. The water department posts the water information on their web site, and it will be updated again in June. It says, interestingly, that they do not add chloramine. I have ordered a test kit which tests both chlorine and chloramine - though one would worry if they would change that policy at some point. I'm just that kind of curious person - I like to know what's what.

I also ordered test kits for lead, copper and phosphate. It seems as though people with ponds test for phosphate, as it could be in water runoff - and a pond is in the works for this year.

I am also trying to figure out exactly what the carbon filter takes out - and having contacted the maker of AquaClear filters (Hagen), they tell me it removes dissolved toxins but not undissolved toxins such as heavy metals. But they gave no further details.

I see from your posts that you are a big "science geek." How wonderful! I think having someone who can add to our information on chemistry on will be grand!

Any other thoughts you might have on water quality and tests, I am very interested in hearing.

Thanks!

I spent all of last summer in Boston, staying with my brother in Cambridge, and I learned all sorts of things about the area. My first impression of the tap water was that it tasted just like lake water, and it turns out that some areas are using some very old water infrastructure...

Anyway, concerning the carbon: "Carbon filters are most effective at removing chlorine, sediment, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from water. They are not generally effective at removing minerals, salts, and dissolved inorganic compounds." (wikipedia: carbon filtering)

Activated carbon has an enormous surface area/volume (like bio media) because it is porous and granular. The pores are very small: small enough to catch tiny molecules. The purpose of carbon filtration is mostly for the removal of fishtank odors, fish waste toxins (I read about that somewhere, don't remember exactly what molecules), or medications (once they've run their course). Fishtank carbon isn't designed to remove dissolved metal ions, though it may take in a little bit. I don't usually run carbon filtration on my tank, and won't unless it is needed after administering drugs to the fish.

Also, you should check out this thread:
http://www.kokosgoldfish.invisionzone.com/...showtopic=69002

They're looking over a municipal water quality report.