oops watch those large water changes

[fishnutham]

you should all be using an RO/DI water purifier when doing water changes


Dean

ro water is generally used for reef systems where calacium and trace minerals are added for most fresh water tanks it is not advisable removes all the minerals needed to maintain water ph and various other problems also but I'm blanking out on that right now so I'll let some else fill in the details

 

[repair]

you should all be using an RO/DI water purifier when doing water changes


Dean

I have to agree with fishnutham on this one.

Unless you are keeping satlwater or live in an area with hard water and are trying to keep discus or or some other fish that needs soft water RO units just waste water

( most only give you 20% and wast 80% of the water you filter )

and then you will have to try and get the PH and trace elements where they need to be.

For most fish stability of their water chemistry is more important then having the PH exactly right.

I know that some fish will be fine and live long lives in water that is outside their optimine PH and hardness but they might not want to spawn so in those cases you may have to mess with the water chem but it you don't have too I would leave it alone.

 

[fishnutham]

Did a little more reasearch on water chemistry , quoted from a book on water chemistry and aquariums. the botom line without boring everone to death with the details.

It is fairly easy to avoid Clorine problems by treating raw tap water with a suitalble tap water conditioner.Most commercial tap water conditioners are based on sodium thiosulphate,which very rapidly detoxifies clorine by chemicaly binding it .Water containing CHLORAMINE MUST BE TREATED WITH A SPECIAL WATER CONDITIONER.This contains sodium thiosulphate to neutralize the CLORINE COMPOUND OF CHLORAMINE PLUS A REAGENT THAT MOPS UP THE AMMONIA RELEASED BY THE DEGRADED CHLORAMINE MOLECULES.


Sorry about the caps just want make sure it's read correctly so many people miss the differance between chlorine and choramine.


Now i'm running into problems finding the chemical componets of the two types of water conditioners available to me the one I use and trust is Aquaplus which dosnt provide a chemical ingredient but does claim to remove choramine but not if it binds the ammonia left from the process.The other is big als product wich i dont trust at all almost ignores chloramine all together but does state that a double dose will remove choramine imo this is false because already noted the chemical needed to remove chloamine also require a regent to mop up ammonia so a double dose wouldnt be any more effective.


I would like to see the chemical components of the water conditoners if any one has a product that does label it .


Also the brand names out there because in the interest of better fish keeping I want to contact the companys and try to get them to provide me the info needed, which i will include in this thread as i receive it