Dechlorinator Directly Into New Tank?

[drn_lvs_lnt]

Hey all,

I've recently purchased a 12 gallon aquarium after deciding to take up fish as a hobby.

Thus far I've got all the "necessary gear" and today I finally put in the sand, plants and ornaments, before filling up the whole tank.

Initially I had planned to dechlorinate the water before putting it in, but as the bucket I have (for now) is fairly small, it seemed somewhat tedious to keep adding the solution to each load.

According to one of the store clerks the Aqua-Plus stuff was alright to add into the tank itself after filling it completely. About 1 mL per gallon, I believe.

Is this fine?

I don't plan to have any actual fish for a week or two longer (until I'm sure the tank is cycled and what not), if this is relevant.

Oh, is it normal to have a myriad of tiny bubbles all along the glass? Will they "settle" and eventually go away?

A pic of the aforementioned bubbles...

 

[pandamonium86]

hi there, i normally put the dechlorinator straight into the tank away from wherever the fish are. i think its probably easier to measure and more accurate that way, but i guess it wouldnt make too much difference if you add it in the bucket. seeing as your fish are not actually in the tank yet i dont think it would matter either way. in terms of the bubbles, i get a lot of bubbles on the surface of the water in my tank, but not on the front like that. im sure its fine, i would guess it just means your tank is well aeriated.the tank looks really nicely set up! what fish do you plan to put in?

 

[CrazyAirborne]

yep its fine adding straight to the tank. just make sure u add enough conditioner to treat the full gallon of the tank and not just enough to treat the amount u added. also the little bubbles are normal and happen on water changes. also make sure you read the beginners section on cycling ur tank as you want to do a correct fish less cycle.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Have you had a read through the Beginner's Resource Center? I hope so. If not, be sure to check out the "fishless cycle" thread linked in my sig. It will probably take more than 2 weeks for it to be truly cycled. "Cycled" refers to having cultivated a bacteria colony sufficiently large to deal with the ammonia (poison) produced by the fish to be processed into nitrite (poison) to nitrate (much less dangerous poison). The word cycling refers to the nitrogen cycle. (NH3 - ammonia processes to NO2 - nitrite processes into NO3 - nitrate) The cycling process will probably take at least 6 weeks.

 

[drn_lvs_lnt]

hi there, i normally put the dechlorinator straight into the tank away from wherever the fish are. i think its probably easier to measure and more accurate that way, but i guess it wouldnt make too much difference if you add it in the bucket. seeing as your fish are not actually in the tank yet i dont think it would matter either way. in terms of the bubbles, i get a lot of bubbles on the surface of the water in my tank, but not on the front like that. im sure its fine, i would guess it just means your tank is well aeriated.the tank looks really nicely set up! what fish do you plan to put in?

Thanks for the response. Currently, I'm toying with the idea of a 1 Betta (although I've read conflicting information on whether or not they'd do well in a Fluval Edge tank, as the aperture is fairly small at the top), 3 Red Platies and 5 Neon Tetras.

yep its fine adding straight to the tank. just make sure u add enough conditioner to treat the full gallon of the tank and not just enough to treat the amount u added. also the little bubbles are normal and happen on water changes. also make sure you read the beginners section on cycling ur tank as you want to do a correct fish less cycle.

Thanks. I've spent quite a number of hours poring over beginner guides and the like across the internet. I'm familiar with the cycling process. I've got a master test kit ready and waiting to be used.

Have you had a read through the Beginner's Resource Center? I hope so. If not, be sure to check out the "fishless cycle" thread linked in my sig. It will probably take more than 2 weeks for it to be truly cycled. "Cycled" refers to having cultivated a bacteria colony sufficiently large to deal with the ammonia (poison) produced by the fish to be processed into nitrite (poison) to nitrate (much less dangerous poison). The word cycling refers to the nitrogen cycle. (NH3 - ammonia processes to NO2 - nitrite processes into NO3 - nitrate) The cycling process will probably take at least 6 weeks.

I was under the impression that using "pure" ammonia would dramatically increase the cycle time. From what I've read here and there, for a small tank, it can be done in under two weeks (my initial plan).

Am I misinformed?

 

[Aqua Tom]

Have you had a read through the Beginner's Resource Center? I hope so. If not, be sure to check out the "fishless cycle" thread linked in my sig. It will probably take more than 2 weeks for it to be truly cycled. "Cycled" refers to having cultivated a bacteria colony sufficiently large to deal with the ammonia (poison) produced by the fish to be processed into nitrite (poison) to nitrate (much less dangerous poison). The word cycling refers to the nitrogen cycle. (NH3 - ammonia processes to NO2 - nitrite processes into NO3 - nitrate) The cycling process will probably take at least 6 weeks.

I was under the impression that using "pure" ammonia would dramatically increase the cycle time. From what I've read here and there, for a small tank, it can be done in under two weeks (my initial plan).

Am I misinformed?

I am afraid so, the size of the tank has nothing to do with cycle time. Its all about the filters ability to process aprox 5ppm Ammonia & Nitrites in a 12 hour period. 5ppm of a 12 gallon tank is obviously less ammonia/nitrite than 5ppm of a 100 gallon tank, but & here is the important bit, they are both Five Parts Per Million concentration.
Also a large tank is a bit easier to keep stable than a small one.


Tom

 

[Xraymark]

Once cycled and fish in tank then you are going to need to add the dechlorinator to the bucket during water changes, not the tank. Otherwise you may affect your filter bacteria.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Once cycled and fish in tank then you are going to need to add the dechlorinator to the bucket during water changes, not the tank. Otherwise you may affect your filter bacteria.

I'm sorry, but that just isn't true. During a water change, the filter should be turned off. The dechlorinator works instantly when it comes into contact with the chlorine. Add enough for the ENTIRE VOLUME OF THE TANK, not just the amount that you are replacing, and turn the filter back on after the tank is full. I've been doing it like that for quite some time, without any issue, as have many others here.


As far as the cycling for a smaller tank... Aqua Tom is exactly right.

 

[drn_lvs_lnt]

I am afraid so, the size of the tank has nothing to do with cycle time. Its all about the filters ability to process aprox 5ppm Ammonia & Nitrites in a 12 hour period. 5ppm of a 12 gallon tank is obviously less ammonia/nitrite than 5ppm of a 100 gallon tank, but & here is the important bit, they are both Five Parts Per Million concentration.
Also a large tank is a bit easier to keep stable than a small one.


Tom

Ah, alright. Well, I'm not in any rush to add fish anyway.

 

[CezzaXV]

Why do you need to turn the filter off during a water change? As long as the intake is below the water and the water you're adding is properly dechlorinated, what difference does it make?

 

[StandbySetting]

It just prevents the risk of a blow to the bacterial colony due to coming into contact with chlorine, any affect is likely to be minimal but I guess it never hurts to play it safe. Also most filters wont operate when the tank isn't completely full.

 

[creeker]

Why do you need to turn the filter off during a water change? As long as the intake is below the water and the water you're adding is properly dechlorinated, what difference does it make?

I'm sure he meant when the intake can go above the water line when water is drawn out. I also just add dechlor/dechloramine as I'm filling.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Why do you need to turn the filter off during a water change? As long as the intake is below the water and the water you're adding is properly dechlorinated, what difference does it make?

Why chance it? I turn off the filter and heater while I do a water change, just to be sure that I don't have any other issues to worry about. The only thing I leave on is the light so that i can see what I am doing. If the heater is on and comes out of the water, it will usually cause the glass to break (been there, done that and it isn't fun) and having the filter on could cause it to not have enough water to draw and the motor has to work harder to pull the water into it. It just allows the machine not to have to function under more stress. (Remember, the high the column of water and the smaller the height the pump has to pull the water over the height of the water, the easier it is for the motor. I think it just helps to extend the life of the filter pump. No reason to make it work harder if it doesn't have to.) The water change doesn't take very long and as long as the media remains wet, there is no reason to worry about the bacteria.


(For me it is a case of better safe than sorry.)

 

[HayzH]

i agree...most w/c i do are 50% or more..so there isnt any way i could get my filter under the water level. Some have intake on the bottom of the filter, so it just sucks up all the sand and stuffs up the motor. (been there too)
besides..you are playing with water and electricity.......use your noddle guys!!!

 

[Xraymark]

Once cycled and fish in tank then you are going to need to add the dechlorinator to the bucket during water changes, not the tank. Otherwise you may affect your filter bacteria.

I'm sorry, but that just isn't true. During a water change, the filter should be turned off. The dechlorinator works instantly when it comes into contact with the chlorine. Add enough for the ENTIRE VOLUME OF THE TANK, not just the amount that you are replacing, and turn the filter back on after the tank is full. I've been doing it like that for quite some time, without any issue, as have many others here.


As far as the cycling for a smaller tank... Aqua Tom is exactly right.

Good to know. Might make life a wee bit easier. I suppose the only thing is having to use more dechlorinator for the size of the tank. Is fine if using prime.