Fluoride

[sde]

Hi all,

So recently my family had to switch from well water to city water, and the city water has chlorine and fluoride. I know that chlorine isn't amphibian safe, but what about fluoride? I searched around a bit and couldn't find anything. I figure it probably isn't, but I thought it is worth asking, because if it is than getting water will be a lot easier.
Thanks for your help. -Seth

 

[jAfFa CaKe]

I live in London and our water is treated with all kinds of junk, you name it, we've got it in our water! It's unbelievable nobody has died from drinking it. In fact, I read that if you drink enough of it, you'll get the correct dose of Paracetamol! Anyway, my solution to this, water butts. Collect the rain (It rains a lot in London), add an amphibian safe alkaline solute, do this step because rainwater is very acidic depending on where you live, so add enough, but not too much. Then add it to the tank! Since I didn't answer your question I found something that will, it's about tadpoles, but I'm sure the same could be said if it was about newts and salamanders. https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/FluoridePoisoning/conversations/messages/8314

 

[sde]

Thanks, Jake. Pretty much what I figured about the fluoride.

It rains here a lot too ( hence the city's nickname "Rainy City" ) but not enough in the summer. In the summer there will be weeks at a time when it doesn't rain, so that's a problem. Even in the spring it doesn't really rain enough to do partial water changes on all my tanks. Thanks for the tip about adding alkaline, what one do you use?
The house is still connected to the well, but it runs dry in the summer and fall. The well is full now, though, but we need to get the pump working again. So basically I will have water throughout the winter and spring but not in the summer and fall. There is a decent size stream near by, but using that water is a bit risky....

 

[jAfFa CaKe]

I've used a few things, some worked out well, others not so much. I found the best was a small amount of limestone in the bottom of the Butt. Crushed coral/shells also worked well for me. I've never been sure with things like Bicarbonate of Soda or Baking Powder, I stay away.

 

[sde]

Okay, thanks for your help, Jake!

 

[michael]

You have to know what your municipal water, well water, rain water, and collected water are like generally. I'm lucky that in my town the town water is good for fish and amphibians after the chlorine and chloramine is removed. The flouride does not seem to be at a level that would make a difference one way or the other.

I would be more afraid of collecting river water or rain water in many areas.

 

[sde]

So you are saying that the fluoride in your water doesn't bother your amphibians? Am I understanding that correctly?

The flouride does not seem to be at a level that would make a difference one way or the other

 

[michael]

So you are saying that the fluoride in your water doesn't bother your amphibians? Am I understanding that correctly?

That is correct.