Adding Water Conditioner During Water Changes..

[hoarp001]

Hi, when i do my %15 water changes, when should I add the water conditioner? before i hose the water in? during or after? should i turn the filters off whilst I do it?

Thanks for any advice.

 

[FroggFrogg]

I just add mine to the main tank after i've put the new water in. You only really need to turn the filter off if the water level has gone below the intake and its not actually sucking in water anymore. However i think its safer to turn off the electrical stuff before putting your arm in that water. As for the heater, it sholud be turned of before lowering the water level as it may crack if it is not totaly under water...

 

[SPLiSH]

Personally, I fill the bucket, then put the conditioner in. Then I let it sit for half an hour in the water before adding to the tank - it's a pH buffering conditioner. (I know, the less chemicals the better, but our pH is notorious for bouncing around like mad!)

If it was one of those instant-action types I would still add it to the bucket before the tank, because I am paranoid.

 

[The diver]

i just fill up my bucket, put the conditioner in and then put it streight in the tank and do that a few times

 

[Bex]

I think this is more about filling your tank from a hose than from a bucket. We have a 105 UK gal tank and doing water changes with buckets would take forever. We use a python hose (made it following the pinned topic in the DIY section) and we just keep adding the de-chlor as it fills. A bit before any water goes in and then every 10 mins or so whilst it is filling. Not had any problems at all.

 

[hoarp001]

Well this morning when i did my first change, i injected the condirioner into the stream of water as it came out of the hose. Seemed to work quite well...

 

[Dan04COBRA]

I put half in the tank BEFORE adding fresh water, then with the last bucket I add the rest of the conditioner, shake it up well and add it to the tank, I give it a couple minutes before turning the filter back on.

To the best of my knowledge, the chlorine will wipe out your bacteria in the filter rather quickly if untreated water is ran through it.

 

[BigC]

I remove 2 gallons of aquarium water weekly and replace using a standard plastic bucket, I stir in conditioners (Stresscoat and Blackwater Extract) to the bucket. Then top up the tank.
Regards
BigC

 

[andywg]

Put it in before, during or after, it makes little difference,

The experimental results (though not from controlled scientific tests) I have seen indicate that a mature aquarium (6 months+) does not need dechlorinated water. The cholrine gases out so quickly as not to have an effect.

Even chloramines in the water appear to have little effect as it is believed the filter bacteria can consume the ammonia part of the chemical leaving the cholrine to gas off.