Stingray Water Changes

[Goosefish]

I have two black diamond rays in a 400 gallon tank and want to do several large water changes a week. I have a system to drain with a 1” hose and refill with a python. There are air stones and a large power head to circulate and mix the water while it refills. Is it a bad idea to risk rays with a tap water change using a python? I use seachem safe and premix to dissolve. My water supply has chloramine about 3-4 parts per.
If I age water in a separate container using tap water and seachem safe, will I be creating ammonia which would be bad to add to the tank? I read that prime and safe bind the ammonia but if it’s not being filtered it reverts to harmful ammonia in 24 hours.

 

[Goosefish]

I need to add that I’ve had two major die offs during water changes with the python. In some cases fish act like they’ve been knocked out within seconds of refilling the tank. Same temp. All readings normal and near identical between tap and tank. Sensitive fish like rainbows, but I had rays die in the past in other tanks.

 

[tlindsey]

When I kept Marbled Cat shark I always made premixed water so it wouldn't be a bad idea but you will need to heat the water. IHave you tested your tap water for Ammonia?
I stored the water in Rubbermaid Brute barrel 's.

 

[Goosefish]

Does anyone store tap water with chloramine that has been treated with prime etc.? Is aging water just for dissipating chlorine or because making RO or salt water takes a long time?

 

[tlindsey]

Does anyone store tap water with chloramine that has been treated with prime etc.? Is aging water just for dissipating chlorine or because making RO or salt water takes a long time?

Yes mixing Saltwater was a bit time consuming but wanted the Salinity to be perfect for the sharks. Yes some store water so that Chlorine will dissipate. Honestly don't know about the Chloramine.

 

[iridescence]

Is it a bad idea to risk rays with a tap water change using a python? I use seachem safe and premix to dissolve. My water supply has chloramine about 3-4 parts per.
If I age water in a separate container using tap water and seachem safe, will I be creating ammonia which would be bad to add to the tank? I read that prime and safe bind the ammonia but if it’s not being filtered it reverts to harmful ammonia in 24 hours.

As long as you treat with safe to remove the chlorine/chloramine the rays will be fine, the extra added benefit with safe is that it detoxifies ammonia for 24 hours so that it's harmless to your rays and should get eaten up by your biofilter.


If 24 hour passes, you don't need to treat your container with safe again because you have already removed the chlorine/chloramine. The ammonia in is no longer in a detoxified state, but it'll get eaten up by your biolfilter quickly and should still be fine for your rays or any fish.

I do 50% water changes a week with a carbon block filter and never treat with prime. The ammonia from the tap gets removed quickly after the water change.

 

[duanes]

Yes mixing Saltwater was a bit time consuming but wanted the Salinity to be perfect for the sharks. Yes some store water so that Chlorine will dissipate. Honestly don't know about the Chloramine.

Chloramine does not dissipate on its own, over time.
Because I used to work at a drinking water facility we occasionionally allowed chloramintaed water to sit for periods of time, and test it to determine how long Chloramine residual would take to. dissipate.
On many occasions even after two weeks, chloramine residual would barely budge or drop even a few tenths of a ppm, after just sitting.
This is one of the main reasons water providers use chloramine, because it provides protection against water born disease carrying bacteria in drinking water for a much longer period of time, and to the far reaches of the distribution system.
Another reason to use chloramine, is when combined with organic compounds in water, it does not produce trihalomethanes that straight chlorine does. Trihalomethane are carcinogenic.
From being on both sides of the aisle I realize.....
It is a water providers mission statement to provide disease free water to drink.
This is sometimes at odds with what fish keepers want, but it is solely the "aquarists" responsibility to remove those disinfectants dangerous to our fish.

 

[Goosefish]

I added a 3000 gph powerhead to the tank and it’s made a big difference in the fish behavior during water changes. I had big airstones but that wasn’t getting the water mixed fast enough.
If that doesn’t hold up I’ll try premixing in another container like an IBC tote.
If I can get away with python water changes I can refocus on figuring out how to get a constant drip going (with chloramine!)