Treating water during changes

Mid posted.


"David C. Stone" <no.email.DeleteThis@example.com> wrote in message
news:071020050745134622%no.email@example.com...
> I was in one of the large fish stores yesterday, watching a video of the
> python system. I was curious about the fact that this requires you to
> add dechlorinator to the tank, rather than the water you're adding
> before it goes in.
>
> Couple of questions for those who use such systems:
>
> - do you determine the amount of dechlorinator to add from the volume
> going in to the tank, or the total tank volume?


You determine the amount of dechlorinator to add from the volume going into
the tank. I have heard that today's dechlorinators are 50 times more
powerful than they need to be and that they "biodegrade" or become inactive
after 20 or so minutes of being in dechlorinated water. That is not a quote
but I think it is correct or is at least mostly correct.


>
> - do the fish seem to show any signs of stress with the chlorine in the
> in-coming water while filling?

No, in fact they seem to love to swim in it.


>
> - is the previous concern something to worry about when doing large
> water changes (say up to 50%)?

Never in my experience and I suspect the majority of others here if not all
of them, have the same opinions.
 >> Stay informed about: Treating water during changes 

David C. Stone" <no.email DeleteThis @example.com> wrote in message
news:071020050745134622%no.email@example.com...
>I was in one of the large fish stores yesterday, watching a video of the
> python system. I was curious about the fact that this requires you to
> add dechlorinator to the tank, rather than the water you're adding
> before it goes in.
>
> Couple of questions for those who use such systems:
>
> - do you determine the amount of dechlorinator to add from the volume
> going in to the tank, or the total tank volume?
>

I add declor for the amount of water I'm replacing


> - do the fish seem to show any signs of stress with the chlorine in the
> in-coming water while filling?
>

I add the dechlor just before I start filling the tank

> - is the previous concern something to worry about when doing large
> water changes (say up to 50%)?

No more than any "normal" effects of 50% water changes e.g pH going up etc

Peter
 >> Stay informed about: Treating water during changes 

On Fri, 07 Oct 2005 07:45:13 -0400, "David C. Stone"
<no.email DeleteThis @example.com> wrote:

>I was in one of the large fish stores yesterday, watching a video of the
>python system. I was curious about the fact that this requires you to
>add dechlorinator to the tank, rather than the water you're adding
>before it goes in.
>
>Couple of questions for those who use such systems:
>
>- do you determine the amount of dechlorinator to add from the volume
> going in to the tank, or the total tank volume?
>
>- do the fish seem to show any signs of stress with the chlorine in the
> in-coming water while filling?
>
>- is the previous concern something to worry about when doing large
> water changes (say up to 50%)?

I use a Python to make 20% water changes. I never add dechlorinator.
I mentioned this to a friend who had been using dechlorinator and she
stopped adding it. Our water does have chlorination. I don't know
how muc, but I suspect it is the legal minimum.

Two factors involved: partial change means the new water has the
chlorination diluted to a tolerable level; we are not all chemists who
enjoy adding stuff to the water.

I fried half a doze fish, some I really liked, by adding too much
acid. The municipal water is professionally adjusted and apparently
is more consistent than my adjustments. So, consider just going with
the flow, the community water flow that is.

dick
 >> Stay informed about: Treating water during changes 

I don't use one but from previous conversations here (and good sense) you
only need to treat the "replacement" water not the whole volume.... as it is
only the replacement water that has chlorine in it.



"David C. Stone" <no.email.RemoveThis@example.com> wrote in message
news:071020050745134622%no.email@example.com...
> I was in one of the large fish stores yesterday, watching a video of the
> python system. I was curious about the fact that this requires you to
> add dechlorinator to the tank, rather than the water you're adding
> before it goes in.
>
> Couple of questions for those who use such systems:
>
> - do you determine the amount of dechlorinator to add from the volume
> going in to the tank, or the total tank volume?
>
> - do the fish seem to show any signs of stress with the chlorine in the
> in-coming water while filling?
>
> - is the previous concern something to worry about when doing large
> water changes (say up to 50%)?
 >> Stay informed about: Treating water during changes 

In article <4s3fk1pkahbj6flni73clialgfqrumh348.RemoveThis@4ax.com>, Dick
<remdick.RemoveThis@christophers.net> wrote:

[snip]
>
> Two factors involved: partial change means the new water has the
> chlorination diluted to a tolerable level; we are not all chemists who
> enjoy adding stuff to the water.

Well, I'm a chemist, and I don't enjoy adding stuff to the water,
either!

Thanks to all for the feedback - should make the routine tank
maintenance a lot easier.
 >> Stay informed about: Treating water during changes 

Dick wrote:
> Whoops, I was talking about pH adjustment, not dechlorination. The
> discussion must have seemed weird to those that knew what they were
> talking about. I still add no chemicals, but the rest of my
> discussion I was thinking pH, not chlorination. Can you imagine
> turning me loose with chemicals adding one chemical when I meant to
> add another?
>
> dick


So, you use dechlorinator during water changes but don't dump acid in
your tank anymore to attemp pH adjustments? I think that is sound
advice for most all of us.

steve
 >> Stay informed about: Treating water during changes 

David C. Stone wrote:
> I was in one of the large fish stores yesterday, watching a video of the
> python system. I was curious about the fact that this requires you to
> add dechlorinator to the tank, rather than the water you're adding
> before it goes in.
>
> Couple of questions for those who use such systems:
>
> - do you determine the amount of to add from the volume
> going in to the tank, or the total tank volume?
>
> - do the fish seem to show any signs of stress with the chlorine in the
> in-coming water while filling?
>
> - is the previous concern something to worry about when doing large
> water changes (say up to 50%)?
Is there any problems with adding too much dechlorinator to the new
water? The bottle I use does not drip out well, it will some times shoot
out or not even drip. so my mesurements are not too well. my test kits
are all good. TIA
 >> Stay informed about: Treating water during changes 

Bottom posted.


"Justice" <xxhorsemen.TakeThisOut@telusplanetxx.net> wrote in message
news:P8c2f.19573$ir4.5960@edtnps90...
> David C. Stone wrote:
> > I was in one of the large fish stores yesterday, watching a video of the
> > python system. I was curious about the fact that this requires you to
> > add dechlorinator to the tank, rather than the water you're adding
> > before it goes in.
> >
> > Couple of questions for those who use such systems:
> >
> > - do you determine the amount of to add from the volume
> > going in to the tank, or the total tank volume?
> >
> > - do the fish seem to show any signs of stress with the chlorine in the
> > in-coming water while filling?
> >
> > - is the previous concern something to worry about when doing large
> > water changes (say up to 50%)?
> Is there any problems with adding too much dechlorinator to the new
> water? The bottle I use does not drip out well, it will some times shoot
> out or not even drip. so my mesurements are not too well. my test kits
> are all good. TIA

There is no reasonable way to overdose on dechlorinator. I myself prefer
tetra aquasafe and I just eyeball how much I need. The measuring lid
measures 5 ml (1 teaspoon) at a time so I need to just estimate how much to
use. Some users here would say that without reasonableness you could turn
your tank into a chemical soup if you don't use reason and "overdose" on
dechlorinator. Overall that's best to avoid. Good luck and later!
 >> Stay informed about: Treating water during changes 

"Justice" <xxhorsemen DeleteThis @telusplanetxx.net> wrote in message
news:P8c2f.19573$ir4.5960@edtnps90...
> David C. Stone wrote:
>> I was in one of the large fish stores yesterday, watching a video of the
>> python system. I was curious about the fact that this requires you to
>> add dechlorinator to the tank, rather than the water you're adding before
>> it goes in.
>>
>> Couple of questions for those who use such systems:
>>
>> - do you determine the amount of to add from the volume
>> going in to the tank, or the total tank volume?
>>
>> - do the fish seem to show any signs of stress with the chlorine in the
>> in-coming water while filling?
>>
>> - is the previous concern something to worry about when doing large
>> water changes (say up to 50%)?
> Is there any problems with adding too much dechlorinator to the new water?
> The bottle I use does not drip out well, it will some times shoot out or
> not even drip. so my mesurements are not too well. my test kits are all
> good. TIA

I was told that Hagen did tests to x10 the dosage and found no ill effects.
In any case, you could pour into a container first (test tube from your
water test kit) before you put it into the water.
--
www.NetMax.tk
 >> Stay informed about: Treating water during changes 

On Fri, 07 Oct 2005 07:45:13 -0400, "David C. Stone"
<no.email RemoveThis @example.com> wrote:

>I was in one of the large fish stores yesterday, watching a video of the
>python system. I was curious about the fact that this requires you to
>add dechlorinator to the tank, rather than the water you're adding
>before it goes in.
>
>Couple of questions for those who use such systems:
>
>- do you determine the amount of dechlorinator to add from the volume
> going in to the tank, or the total tank volume?
>
>- do the fish seem to show any signs of stress with the chlorine in the
> in-coming water while filling?
>
>- is the previous concern something to worry about when doing large
> water changes (say up to 50%)?

Here is a better way:
Buy a plastic container (about $5 at WalMart) that can hold about 40%
or more water of you tank plus a pump (about $15 from the Web) and few
feet of clear plastic tube (avout $3 at home depo for 10 feet). Make
sure the pump can push water up to the hight of your tank.

Use the python to connect to your tap and fill the container, treat
the water to whatever you like. Then use the python to drain 40% of
your fish tank. After that, use the pump to pump the treated water
back to your tank.

The time you used to drain the tank should be enough for the water
treatment to work. If you like, you can also leave the water in the
plastic container over night too.

I use this method all the time and it works fine for about $25 cost.
You can also store the pump and python in the coantiner after water
change.
 >> Stay informed about: Treating water during changes 

On 9 Oct 2005 09:29:41 -0700, "default" <halfarock2000.DeleteThis@yahoo.com>
wrote:

>
>Dick wrote:
>> Whoops, I was talking about pH adjustment, not dechlorination. The
>> discussion must have seemed weird to those that knew what they were
>> talking about. I still add no chemicals, but the rest of my
>> discussion I was thinking pH, not chlorination. Can you imagine
>> turning me loose with chemicals adding one chemical when I meant to
>> add another?
>>
>> dick
>
>
>So, you use dechlorinator during water changes but don't dump acid in
>your tank anymore to attemp pH adjustments? I think that is sound
>advice for most all of us.
>
>steve

Nope, I use neither, but one size does not fit all. It is my
understanding some communities use more chlorine than mine does.
Also, pH varies widely. I just want people to be aware to look into
their local conditions and not just add chemicals because "everyone
else does!"

dick
 >> Stay informed about: Treating water during changes 

Most of the dechlorinator solutions out there are harmless when overdosed in
the tank.

I have several of those plastic infant medicine dispensers that I use. The
ones that have a graduated tube and a spoon like shape on the open end.
They're great for quickly measuring out liquid medications or treatment
solutions. Even measureing out dry powders is easy! You can find them in
nearly every pharmacy or local drug store.

Justin


"Justice" <xxhorsemen RemoveThis @telusplanetxx.net> wrote in message
news:P8c2f.19573$ir4.5960@edtnps90...
> David C. Stone wrote:
> > I was in one of the large fish stores yesterday, watching a video of the
> > python system. I was curious about the fact that this requires you to
> > add dechlorinator to the tank, rather than the water you're adding
> > before it goes in.
> >
> > Couple of questions for those who use such systems:
> >
> > - do you determine the amount of to add from the volume
> > going in to the tank, or the total tank volume?
> >
> > - do the fish seem to show any signs of stress with the chlorine in the
> > in-coming water while filling?
> >
> > - is the previous concern something to worry about when doing large
> > water changes (say up to 50%)?
> Is there any problems with adding too much dechlorinator to the new
> water? The bottle I use does not drip out well, it will some times shoot
> out or not even drip. so my mesurements are not too well. my test kits
> are all good. TIA
 >> Stay informed about: Treating water during changes