It's the way I have always done it, from other post simular to this it's quite common. I have had no side effects that I can measure in any way from doing it this way. The new water flows thru the cloud of Prime.
How do you treat your water during water change?
- Thread starter jcarson
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It's the way I have always done it, from other post simular to this it's quite common. I have had no side effects that I can measure in any way from doing it this way. The new water flows thru the cloud of Prime.
The MSDS for API TWC says it's 30% sodium thiosulfate. That's probably not going to dechlorinate much at 1 mL per 20 gal. I've found that dosing recommendations are often far from reality.
One dechlorinator's recommended dosage is 14X more than necessary. Another's removes less than half of the very average chloramine levels in my tap water, leaving behind a lethal dose.
Pre-treating water is definitely the best practice.
The water change is either too fast or your dechlorination is too slow. The reaction is first or second order so you concentration matter. You may want to use a dechlorinator that's safer to use at higher concentrations (5 mL/10 gal). You're not the first to complain of this when using Prime.
No not really but considering what one makes every pay day it can get expensive.
fishhead's issue sounds like a case of operator error. See quote below.
If what he states is true his fish are all being subjected to chlorine/chloramine while the tank is filling, right up until it is full. For that reason I treat (approx. half dose) just before adding tap water, and again (approx. half dose) near the end of the fill. (approx. 3/4 full tank)
As I have pointed out numerous times over the years, unless one knows their disinfectant residual levels as they leave their taps, how much dechlorinator one uses becomes a case of by guess of by golly. Manufacturers generally only recommend a dechlorinator dosage rate based on a specific disinfectant residual level. That "recommended" dosage rate is only a baseline quantity based on a specific residual level. In the case of water conditioners one size does not fit all.
I need to learn my tap parameters but since I am obsessive about this, is adding too much conditioner bad? I am trying to learn self discipline but at the same time do not want to do harm to my fish as the water comes out of my python.
I feel like it can never be enough. Always triple dosing the recommended!
Adding too much conditioner will remove a lot of oxygen from the water, causing your fish to gasp in about a few hours.
If your fish are not gasping with your triple dose, then you can continue with your current dosage.
As Rocksor stated, 02 depletion can be a potential risk. As an example, some people turn their filters off during a water change, and on a large water change that could mean no 02 exchange taking place for a considerable amount of time. Then factor in the number & size of fish, temperature of water as less 02 available to fish at higher temps, how large of an overdose of dechlorinator, etc. Every single parameter becomes significant. Higher temperature of water combined with their reducing agents creating lower 02 levels is exactly why Seachem warns consumers about not overdosing when tank water temp is above a certain setpoint.
