Mixing up prime?
- Thread starter CarpCharacin
- Start date
Hello; Lets go back to some of the information already posted in this thread. The powered form of SAFE is stable for about 30 days after first mixed. Why not estimate how many water changes you plan to do in a 30 day peroid and try to get an idea of the total amount of water used. You could then mix the amount needed to treat that amount of water. Label the container with the date mixed and how much water it should treat in total. Divide that by the amount of water used in each change.
Example could be that if you change 50 gallons each week, then you will need enough to treat around 200 gallons. ( 4 X 50 gallons) This may make measuring out the doses a bit less tedious.
On another note, have you checked a water quality report from you local water company? Some, myself included, are fortunate in that our tap water is treated only with chlorine. I can and do store my tap water for a few days (usually at least four days) and then it is fine to use in my tanks. I have some SAFE and PRIME on hand to use under unusual conditions such as when I clean equipment with clorox solution.
On the other hand many have their tap water treated with chemicals such as chloramine. If your tap water has this stuff in it then the general consensus is that you must use some sort of water conditioner like SAFE or PRIME.
If you are very lucky and happen to be on a private well, then you may have the best situatioin of all. I had a good well for a number of years and all I needed to think about was the temperature differences during a water change. Of course a private well should have the water quality tested from time to time.
Example could be that if you change 50 gallons each week, then you will need enough to treat around 200 gallons. ( 4 X 50 gallons) This may make measuring out the doses a bit less tedious.
On another note, have you checked a water quality report from you local water company? Some, myself included, are fortunate in that our tap water is treated only with chlorine. I can and do store my tap water for a few days (usually at least four days) and then it is fine to use in my tanks. I have some SAFE and PRIME on hand to use under unusual conditions such as when I clean equipment with clorox solution.
On the other hand many have their tap water treated with chemicals such as chloramine. If your tap water has this stuff in it then the general consensus is that you must use some sort of water conditioner like SAFE or PRIME.
If you are very lucky and happen to be on a private well, then you may have the best situatioin of all. I had a good well for a number of years and all I needed to think about was the temperature differences during a water change. Of course a private well should have the water quality tested from time to time.
Hello ; I suggest that you do a search in this site about the subject. A number of members do not like my store and wait method. I have used it for a few decades now. Some suggest to use SAFE/PRIME regardless of the water source. A lot has be written about water treatment chemicals. This is one of those issues having folks with strong feelings on both sides. Best do some checking and make up your own mind.
One way to look at it is that the use of such water treatment (SAFE/PRIME) is reported to have little down side and may be considered insurance. As you already have the stuff on hand you are in a position to use it without additional cost.
Having multiple containers of water sitting around for many days has some issues in itself. I like to think of it as emergency water.
I don't have a lot of extra room to have containers of water. I use a python water changer so it is really easy to siphon the water and then add safe and fill up the tank.
We use only chlorine here. I buy sodium thiosulfate crystals on ebay. Enough to last 100 years is about $15.
LOL, exactly. I have no idea why more folks on chlorine only systems aren't buying bulk sodium thiosulfate?
Also, before one can accurately conclude how much water conditioner (if any?) they require, they must understand what their peak treatment levels are in their local water treatment facility. This often varies from town to town, and city to city, across North America. Ditto to the rest of the free world. I actually have a sticky posted somewhere on this very subject - the OP might want to read it.
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/cost-effective-water-conditioners.309623/
HTH
Way over thinking (and dramatizing) this folks: drop a small pinch of powdered SAFE into a small tank...bigger one into larger. Never had any issues with this and been doing it for years.
As an aside, I prefer Chloram-X as it doesn't have the stinky smell of safe. It's also a powder.
For either, I put some powdered dechlor in a baggy and put a little pinch in each tank before re-filling.
There's a guy in our club who pre-mixes SAFE without issue.
Maybe I'm wasting some but (like I said) been my routine for a long time.
Matt
As an aside, I prefer Chloram-X as it doesn't have the stinky smell of safe. It's also a powder.
For either, I put some powdered dechlor in a baggy and put a little pinch in each tank before re-filling.
There's a guy in our club who pre-mixes SAFE without issue.
Maybe I'm wasting some but (like I said) been my routine for a long time.
Matt
