====== chloramine =======

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Understanding chloramine and how to address it in your aquarium setup is important for maintaining a healthy environment for your aquatic pets.
</WRAP>

Chloramine is a disinfectant used in water treatment to ensure that drinking water is free from harmful microorganisms. It is a compound that results from combining chlorine with ammonia, and it is used as an alternative to chlorine in municipal water supplies for several reasons:

  - **Disinfection**: Like chlorine, chloramine is effective at killing bacteria and other pathogens in water. It is used to ensure that water remains safe to drink as it travels through pipes to consumers.
  - **Stability**: Chloramine is more stable and less reactive than chlorine. This means it stays in the water longer, providing a longer-lasting disinfection effect and reducing the formation of potentially harmful disinfection by-products.
  - **Reduced By-products**: When chlorine reacts with organic matter in water, it can form by-products such as trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs), which are potentially harmful. Chloramine generally forms fewer of these by-products, making it a preferred choice for reducing certain water quality concerns.
  - **Challenges for Fishkeepers**: While chloramine is effective for municipal water treatment, it poses challenges for aquarium enthusiasts. Unlike chlorine, which can be removed from water by letting it sit out or by using certain chemicals, chloramine requires specific treatment methods. Simply letting water sit will not remove chloramine. To make water safe for fish and other aquatic life, you need a dechlorinator or water conditioner that specifically targets chloramine. [[:products:seachemprime|Seachem Prime]] is one of these de-chlorinators that will address and remove Chloramine from water.
  - **Water Treatment Products**: Many water conditioners and dechlorinators designed for aquarium use are formulated to neutralize both chlorine and chloramine. When adding water to an aquarium or performing a water change, using these products is essential to prevent harm to fish and other aquatic organisms.
  - **Health Considerations**: Chloramine in drinking water is generally considered safe at the concentrations used in municipal supplies. However, some people prefer to remove chloramine from their water due to concerns about its potential health effects, especially if they have specific health conditions or are using water for sensitive applications.