Dechlorinated Spring Water?

[ladybug15057]

Interesting, from a few crabbers who belong to the same forums I do mention how costly things are as well as how they are on a budget? Some of the newer Canadian crabbers have also mentioned how they must wait until next pay or the next month to get certain items required for their hermies...

[Mr.Crab]

I also use conditioner in my spring water, make sure theres no chlorines added.

[Wai]

Being a student who has studied chemistry at high school, I've always been confused by this. I always hear that "chlorine" is toxic to hermit crabs. However, is "chlorine" referring to chlorine gas (Cl₂) or the chloride ion (Cl^-)? Chlorine gas is indeed toxic to humans (it was used in smoke bombs in the World Wars), but is the chloride ion toxic to hermit crabs too? Chloride ions are a key component of salts (both table salt and sea salt). Isn't table salt a form of refined sea salt? Table salt consists of roughly 99% sodium chloride (NaCl) while sea salt is at least 95% sodium chloride with a mixture of other salts, such as potassium chloride (KCl). Most, if not all salts consisting of the sodium ion (Na⁺) are soluble in water, so it should be relatively inert and not be the cause for any blisters.

Is the chloride ion itself toxic, or is it the iodide ion found in some table salts that is toxic? I want to have this clarified before I update the Water page in our Crab Care section.

Also, Marie, I recall you mentioning that hermit crabs can wet the sand themselves to their preferring salinity level. However, how does salinity affect pH? pH measures acidity, not salinity.

[emmac350]

I think the "chlorine blisters gills" thing is related to chlorine's chemical properties. Chlorine is an oxidant and, therefore, good as a bleach and disinfectant. Chlorides, or the Cl- ion, are the most abundant ion dissolved in ocean water. Chlorine in its gaseous form can cause vomiting, blisters, and even permanent blindness or death in humans. Chlorine is considered a "halogen" which is the most reactive group of elements. Because of their reactivity, the halogens are found in nature pretty much only in compounds or as their ions; chlorine used in the chlorination of drinking water is Cl2, which is not one of the more common, naturally occurring varieties.

When Cl2 is added to water, the Cl2 and H2O combine to form HOCl and HCl, and, depending on the pH of the resulting solution, it could become H+ and ClO-. The chlorination of water can also cause disinfection by-products to include trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids. These compounds are carcinogenic in nature and are now regulated by most governments; the World Health Organization stated "Risks to health from DBPs are extremely small in comparison with inadequate disinfection."

As for the effects of salinity on pH, the energy produced by splitting the Na+ and Cl- ions is not sufficient to split the H20, so HCl would not be formed from that reaction, thus not creating the extra acidity.

[ladybug15057]

Wai, Thanks for taking the time to explain to me where your thought process is at. Research is always the best way to be informed and current with your information. I am not a chemistry student, or do I have any form of scientific degree. But I would like you to take into consideration that I do have a couple thousand hours of research under my keyboard I have done myself. I have also read countless hours of research findings that other crabbers have brought to the table over the years. This is coupled with, (as well as myself, but two especially a LOT more than myself) having conversed/e-mailed with crustacean scientists/biologists as well as reading numerous journals on the internet. Some of the journals were only able to be read by paying a fee, or through a university while some were attending college, but were also shared.

It is through research, conversing with crustacean scientist/biologists, as well as successful crabbing experience where the bulk of the information was gathered for the Crab Street Journal care sheets.
If you re-read my posting you should also note that I had put "ph (ion)." I understand that you might not be aware of the origins of all this information so I hope this helps you to understand just where the CSJ info comes from and why we all feel so passionate about it.

When you applied for Sister Site status with the Crab Street Journal, I volunteered to assist with the Crab Care Section here at HCP to help correct the information as well as bring it up to date with current research and experience. I had done several e-mails broken down by each 'section' of the Crab Care area and spent several hours doing this. Through reading what has been updated in the Crab Care section so far, majority of the information I had e-mailed hasn't been included. At this point I am unsure whether or not you actually want to update your site or want our help. If you are no longer interested please let me know so I can put my limited time to helping out in other areas where I am needed.

At this point for the information you are seeking, I would like to suggest to begin to do extensive research either by yourself or/with other members of the crab crew. This information is out there on the internet, just takes quite awhile to search for it as well as reading all the material involved.If your findings come back differently than ours please let me know. We are constantly trying to update our own care sheets to keep them as current as possible. There's a lot of old information out there and it is really a constant battle to keep current.

[Wai]

Marie, by no means was I trying to disprove what you knew. Sorry if you took it that way. I'm no science nut.

To be honest, having recently finished school, I've had a lot going on lately (eg. working, being dragged out by friends and driving lessons) and have struggled being in the mood to focus purely on the site. However, I have been spending a lot of time trying to keep my two hermit crabs comfortable, having made so many mistakes in the past. It's also difficult for me to work on the site at times, because my mum scolds me for "wasting time and download quota" every time she catches me on my website.

I am still interested in "modernising" the site. I still have all your emails stored. I know I missed some things, but I plan to add them once I've got every page set up and ready to rearrange bits of information around until I have included everything you told me.

[Pengy]

My mom just buys a package of bottled water