Do I need to add dechlorinator every time I add tap water to my pond?
There are some people who are convinced dechlorinator is one of those products that pond companies are able to sell based on the fear of what would happen if it was not used. If your pond is only home to a few goldfish bought at a big box store then the temptation to skip the dechlorinator might be hard to resist. However, keep in mind that the amount of chlorine and chloramine (look for a dechlorinator that also removes chloramines) can vary throughout the year and what may not be a problem in July could be lethal in January. It is also important to understand that chlorine can do its damage over a long period of time. Elevated chlorine and chloramine levels essentially burn the gills of fish, thus reducing their ability to breathe over time. So while the lack of dechlorinator may not seem to be causing problems at the time you are adding tap water, the damage is building up and your fish are then susceptible to many other stressors that would not harm otherwise healthy fish. Will it
There are some people who are convinced dechlorinator is one of those products that pond companies are able to sell based on the fear of what would happen if it was not used. If your pond is only home to a few goldfish bought at a big box store then the temptation to skip the dechlorinator might be hard to resist. However, keep in mind that the amount of chlorine and chloramine (look for a dechlorinator that also removes chloramines) can vary throughout the year and what may not be a problem in July could be lethal in January. It is also important to understand that chlorine can do its damage over a long period of time. Elevated chlorine and chloramine levels essentially burn the gills of fish, thus reducing their ability to breathe over time. So while the lack of dechlorinator may not seem to be causing problems at the time you are adding tap water, the damage is building up and your fish are then susceptible to many other stressors that would not harm otherwise healthy fish. Will it