My idea on the whole issue is if the water is safe enough for me to drink, its safe enough for the reptiles. I wouldn't waste money on the water conditioner stuff. I just see it as something the companies try to sell but its your choice Have you tried putting the same water from the same source in a glass to see if the glass gets gunk? Maybe its something in your water source. Like fill a glass a up from the same sink you fill the snakes bowl from and let the glass sit a day and see if you get gunk buildup on that glass. If so, they I would be calling your water dept and finding out what sort of creature you are going to morph into