A few questions

[unionman125]

Ive had a 10 gallon tank for a few years now. I've never claimed to know alot about fishkeeping, but i've learned alot since i joined the forum, but i still have a few questions.

How important is dechlorinating water?

If a tank has a few plants and no Co2 system should it still have an airstone in it, or will that let all the Co2 escape?

My tank is overstocked (i didnt know this untill i joined the forum) But i will be getting a new and much bigger tank this week. If I take a few fish out of the old tank, along with the old filter, and put them in the new tank will this hasten the cycling process. Or should I try to cycle the new tank with no fish in it?

Thanks for the help

 

[SirMinion]

Ha ha ha... so MTS takes hold.. Mwahahaha!

1. Very Important. Water conditioner not only detoxifies chlorine & chloramines in tapwater that stress the fish, damage fish membranes including gill surfaces and kills the beneficial bacteria in your filter, but also makes poisonous disolved metals such as copper or even lead from your pipes, and mercury from the enviroment, safe.
2. Co2 and O2 do not cancel each other out, the water can be saturated with both. However an airstone can reduce Co2 by creating a larger surface area for the Co2 to difuse into the atmosphere in the same way that in creates a larger surface area to get more atmospheric O2 to disolve into the water.
   In practice though, it makes very little difference, so an airstone is down to personal preference and the fish's requirements.
3. Cloning a tank; which means placing mature filter media into a new tank will seriously speed up the cycle or in some cases do away with the need for one at all. Just remember that if the filter media is exposed to air, or deprived of fresh oxygenated water for more than an hour, it will die and be useless.
   In my opinion, if you move over all your filter media and gravel, you will be ok to move the existing fish in straight away but monitor the water and only add new fish when you are sure that the filter is stable and not gone into a mini-cycle.

 

[freddyk]

If I take a few fish out of the old tank, along with the old filter, and put them in the new tank will this hasten the cycling process. Or should I try to cycle the new tank with no fish in it?

You're bringing the highest concentration of bacteria from the old tank into the new - the tank is effectively being instantly cycled. All you need to do now is test the water to make sure, do water changes if necessary, and add any new fish gradually once you declare it safe.

 

[unionman125]

Sir Minion

forgive my newness. what is MTS?

 

[Annastasia]

forgive my newness. what is MTS?

Multiple Tank Syndrome. It's contagious.

 

[unionman125]

It happens

 

[unionman125]

How about salt. My LFS swears that aquarium salt should be added with every water change


Ohh and about chlorine. What is the easiest way to remove it from the water?

 

[freddyk]

How about salt. My LFS swears that aquarium salt should be added with every water change

These are freshwater fish and it's best to keep your water fresh. Salt can help with some health issues, but otherwise it's an unnatural element in the tank, which is why I'm not a fan of it. Still, some still tend to use it without any problems, though their fish are no healthier then if they weren't using it.

Ohh and about chlorine. What is the easiest way to remove it from the water?

Just use water conditioner, it works well, it works fast.

 

[sylvia]

Also, some fish will not tolerate salt - for example scaless species like cory cats and many plecs. A de-chlorinator (water conditioner) is realy the only way to instantly get rid of chlorine. Some people leave the water to stand for a couple of days but, especialy if your tap water contains chloramines (chlorine + ammonia), this won't help much and it means you can't do a water change during emergencies.

 

[unionman125]

some fish will not tolerate salt - for example scaless species like cory cats and many plecs

I didnt know this. THat explains why my ghost knife looks particularly unhapy when I add salt

who would'a thought

 

[Iron Man]

Well adding salt has to do with the equilibrium between the amount of salt in their bodies and the amount of salt in the water. Its different for different species of fish. The body is always working and spending a certain amount of energy to maintain this equilibrium, but most freshwater fish can do just fine without added 'aquarium salt' in their water. Using salt can cure disease, such as ich, if added in temporarily high concentrations, I know from experience. It can also help a fish recover from other types of ailments by giving a little less to have to spend its energy on so it can use all its energy on recovery or its immune system. Its like being in a hospital. Sure lying around being served all the time will be good for you when trying to recover from something major....but do you need it 24/7 for the rest of your life?

On the other hand I've read where breeders swear by it with certain fish such as mollies. They claim they have better color and more entergy. I don't think it makes that much of a difference in the long run. Its certainly not necessary.

 

[unionman125]

like i said before, my LFS guy has a thing about adding salt all the time. Says its good for reducing stress. Improves gill function etc.etc....

But why put addititives in that i dont need?

To switch gears a little. Ive never used a water conditioner before. I hear that they are essental to eliminating chlorine in tap water. Should conditioner be added to the water once it is in the tank? Or is there a way to treat it before or during the filling process?

 

[dwarfgourami]

"To switch gears a little. Ive never used a water conditioner before. I hear that they are essental to eliminating chlorine in tap water. Should conditioner be added to the water once it is in the tank? Or is there a way to treat it before or during the filling process?"

What I do when I do water changes is put cold tap water+ a little boiling water from the kettle (to bring it up to temperature, as water from the hot tap is less pure) in a graded 10-litre bucket, then add dechlorinator to that, give it a swirl and pour it into the tank with a measuring jug. Dechlorinator works pretty well instantly. I know some people who use pythons add it directly to the tank, but my tanks are too small to need anything more elaborate than a couple of buckets, and I like to feel that it has spread and worked on the water before it goes in the tank.

Both jug and bucket are kept for fish use only. As I have more than one tank I use separate "clean" and "dirty" buckets, so as not to risk contamination in case of illness.

I would never dare not to use a conditioner, as mine is city water and heavily chlorinated. Even if you think the company is not using chloramines, it still seems a big gamble, and you never know when something might get added. And there are other nasties that can get into the water. It's a very small expense and easy to use- so go for it!


"like i said before, my LFS guy has a thing about adding salt all the time. Says its good for reducing stress. Improves gill function etc.etc....

But why put addititives in that i dont need?"

You are absolutely right! Hopefully your fish are not under enough stress to merit permanent stress treatment, and it will definitely stress out any scaleless fish- it burns their skins. The only fish I might be tempted to use it with (other than in case of illness) are black mollies- but not if they were with anything less sensitive.

 

[unionman125]

I cant believe how helpful eveyone on here is. Thanks a million. I'll be sure to keep everyone posted when i get my new tank. I oredered off ebay today and i'm going down to brooklyn to pick it up late this week, early next week.

 

[Inchworm]

like i said before, my LFS guy has a thing about adding salt all the time. Says its good for reducing stress. Improves gill function etc.etc....

Hi unionman125

With some fish, such as cory cats and other fish that originate in water that has no natural salt content, their systems have no way of eliminating it once it has been absorbed. If it is used regularly, it will eventually ruin their kidneys and shorten their lifespan.

Mollies are different. They originated as brackish water fish and have recently been bred to live in fresh water. It's necessary to find out from the lfs which kind of water any particular mollies require.

Salt does have medicinal uses, but as a general rule, it's not needed in a healthy tank. Nothing, including salt, can substitute for keeping a tank clean and fresh by doing regular water changes and bottom cleanings.

I like to recommend Wardley's Chlor-Out as a dechlorinator. It removes both chlorine and chloramine and is particularly easy to use if you have a small tank, because it is measured out by drops per gallon instead of so much per 5 gallons or more. Just add it to the container you are filling with water and by the time it is full, it will be ready to add to the tank.