Noob question

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
M

makoshoemaker

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Sep 7, 2010
549
0
0
San Francisco
Hey everyone, I know I should be treating my water before I put it into the tank, but I wanted to know if I could put the water in and then treat it within 10 minutes. I am putting the water into my tank with 5 gallon buckets. I am also using seachem prime so its hard to treat 5 gallons with that each time, and I dont want to risk overtreating my water because I heard that Prime does run the risk of overtreating if you do more than 3x. I really dont trust my measurement skills even though I am a chemistry major. I am only going to do a 40 gallon change with 5 gallon buckets.
I dont claim to be a expert but I would rather ask these questions than have my fish croak.
 
It's always good to ask questions versus risking the lives of your pets! And, that's a good question actually.

What I do is...drain and vac the water down to the level needed. Then, I add Prime to the tank based on the amount of water I am adding. I tend to go over just a bit than what is recommended. For example, if I drain 70 gallons, I add two capfuls (which is what is recommended for 100 gallons). Then, I adjust my water temperature and add water.

In your case, I would add one capful and call it good.

On a side note...buy a Python Gravel Vac or similar (or make your own). You will never believe you once changed water with buckets!).

Good luck to you!
 
After I gravel vac and siphone out the older water (via the python) in my larger tanks, I put AquaNova plus and Amquel plus in before I put new water in.
 
thanks I ended up doing it by treating 5 gallon buckets. My kitchen sink doesnt have the adapter for a python. I considered it already. But if i can find a adapter for it and a good deal I will grab one in a heartbeat.
 
If you know how much you are taking out then just add the correct amount of prime to the tank ready for when you add the water. There is no need to pre-treat every bucket before it goes in.

A small piece of advice to make it easier for you if you want, even if you can't get a hose fitting for your tap buy a pump. Put the single bucket under a running tap and fill the bucket, when the water hits the top of the bucket start pumping to the tank, just keep the tap running at roughly the same rate as the pump; faster is better so the bucket doesn't drain. Stop the pump when the tank is full.
I had to do this when I had a tap that meant I couldn't attach a hose to it. It saved my back from so much strain.
 
I have a friend here, who does what you mentioned.

Adds water into tank first, then adds prime.... one day he forgot to add the prime part :p and since water is in the tank...mentally to him it looked like its done... BIG ERROR lol

As having a good habit, id put conditioner while the water is in the bucket lol...good habit.
 
makoshoemaker;4843214; said:
thanks I ended up doing it by treating 5 gallon buckets. My kitchen sink doesnt have the adapter for a python. I considered it already. But if i can find a adapter for it and a good deal I will grab one in a heartbeat.
Click to expand...

They sell a universal adapter which has two rubber pieces to go over the faucet and then a brass adapter for the python. I use it in the sink in my room.
 
Jay88;4843238; said:
I have a friend here, who does what you mentioned.

Adds water into tank first, then adds prime.... one day he forgot to add the prime part :p and since water is in the tank...mentally to him it looked like its done... BIG ERROR lol

As having a good habit, id put conditioner while the water is in the bucket lol...good habit.
Click to expand...

What happens when you miss one of the multiple buckets??
It is better to treat the tank once before any water is added than do it multiple times with a greater chance of error as you get tired.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom