Tap Water Conditioner

[dissimulo]

Hi all,

My current bottle of Aqua Plus tap water conditioner is next to empty, meaning I need a replacement bottle. It came free with my old tank and was only really meant as a sample. Due to this, I'd like to change brand and would appreciate anyone's experience with/view on a particular brand and why they consider it so.

Cheers,

Luke.

 

[Ashley1991]

as far as i know the cheapest is pond conditioner as long as you dont have heavy metals in your water its more concentrated so goes further

thats what im getting when mine runs out anyway

ash

 

[dissimulo]

Aha, that doesn't sound like a bad idea at all. Would pond specific conditioner be compatible with tropical aquariums then? I've been looking at Seachem Prime, though a 500ml bottle costs over £10.

Cheers,

Luke.

 

[Verminator89]

Seachem prime is good, in my opinion worth the cost. I used it when i first started the hobby.

 

[dissimulo]

Yeah, I have noticed many good reviews. Roughly speaking, how long would a 500ml bottle last?

Cheers,

Luke.

 

[kevinjames]

off topic but not too far, when u guys do water changes do u treat the water proir to putting in the aquarium or add the water then treat the full volume of the aquarium???

oh and ive always used safe guard by king british i think.

 

[Verminator89]

I used to dose 5ml (est) weekly directly to my tank right after a water change and a 500ml bottle would last me on average 26 weeks. So basically half a year. So in a year i would use 2 bottles at a cost of roughly £20. Which to me isnt bad going and well worth it. Actually reminding myself of that little fact makes me think i'll start buying and dosing it again

Hope this helps.

 

[markandhisfish]

Seachem prime is good, in my opinion worth the cost. I used it when i first started the hobby.

+1

i have to do waterchanges every other day seachem prime lasts easily 4 times longer than any other dechlorinator i have used. they also do a super concentrated powder form of it called seachem safe which gos even further still

 

[dissimulo]

When you put it like that, £20 per year seems reasonable. Kevin, I usually dose the entire tank with the amount needed to de-chlorinate the newly added water. Reason being, the current in my tank is fairly strong and so it only takes minutes, if that, for the conditioner to diffuse.

Cheers,

Luke.

 

[Ashley1991]

off topic but not too far, when u guys do water changes do u treat the water proir to putting in the aquarium or add the water then treat the full volume of the aquarium???

oh and ive always used safe guard by king british i think.

i add it to my bucket before i put the water in the tank but i have read people doing it after, before and even during water changes

ash

 

[Verminator89]

they also do a super concentrated powder form of it called seachem safe which gos even further still

I've never got round to trying this. Think that'll be my next online order

 

[Ashley1991]

they also do a super concentrated powder form of it called seachem safe which gos even further still

I've never got round to trying this. Think that'll be my next online order

is it true it detoxifies nitrate so your bio filter can remove them more effectivly? meening lower nitrate in your tank?

according to the sales pitch it does that as well as some stuff to do with ammonia and nitrite

ash

 

[james_fish]

I go on eBay for my water conditioner. Saves me a bomb to be honest!

£8.95 & free P+P for a 500ml bottle of Nutrafin water conditioner. RRP, your looking over £14 I reckon.
In the shops, the 250ml is like £9!

Just a bit of advice.

off topic but not too far, when u guys do water changes do u treat the water proir to putting in the aquarium or add the water then treat the full volume of the aquarium???

oh and ive always used safe guard by king british i think.

If you add it after the new water is in, there is a slight chance some chlorine will kill your bacteria, whereas if you use a bucket like Ashley said, you can agitate it with your hands, ensuring it is mixed and safe for you bacteria.

James.

 

[dissimulo]

I go on eBay for my water conditioner. Saves me a bomb to be honest!

£8.95 & free P+P for a 500ml bottle of Nutrafin water conditioner. RRP, your looking over £14 I reckon.
In the shops, the 250ml is like £9!

Just a bit of advice.

off topic but not too far, when u guys do water changes do u treat the water proir to putting in the aquarium or add the water then treat the full volume of the aquarium???

oh and ive always used safe guard by king british i think.

If you add it after the new water is in, there is a slight chance some chlorine will kill your bacteria, whereas if you use a bucket like Ashley said, you can agitate it with your hands, ensuring it is mixed and safe for you bacteria.

James.

[font="arial][size="2"]You're right. Might you be able to empty water out the tank, dose the tank with half the required amount of conditioner, fill the tank with half the amount of new water being added, add the second half a dose of conditioner and then continue filling the tank with the remaining amount of new water? I suspect this method isn't efficient but it might help those who use a hose pipe when refilling.

Cheers,

Luke.[/size][/font]

 

[Verminator89]

I would suspect the same amount of risk is involved that way as dosing normal amount after a water change anyway.