Water Change ?

[qdog69er]

Should i put something in the water. i have town water and was woundering if i should add some aquasafe to the water before i put it in the tank after a 50% water change

 

[Snooks1!]

You should use a dechlorinate on your water before you put it into your tank. It should take out both chlorine and chloramine.

 

[Mikaila31]

You have add a dechlorinator/ conditioner to get rid of the chlorine and chloramines. They also detoxify heavy metals. I highly suggest Prime. Aquasafe will work too, but Prime lasts a lot longer.

 

[qdog69er]

do i need to let it sit in the water before putting it in the tank or put it in the water and then pour in the tank?

 

[Mikaila31]

It would be best to put the dechlorinator in the tank then add the water. It will neutralize it as you add it.

 

[Snooks1!]

It would be best to put the dechlorinator in the tank then add the water. It will neutralize it as you add it.

I prefer to premix it... The thought of all my nitrifying bacteria dying because of a bit of tap-water getting to them isn't really included in a good day for me.

Just premix the water and then let it set for half an hour or so until it reaches room temp and you should be fine.

 

[qdog69er]

ty after i asked i pre mixed it and it has been sitiing since i got the answere so put the water back in the tank after about a half hour?

 

[qdog69er]

here are my readings after the water change
ph= 6.8
alkalinity= 40 or so
hardness= maybe a bit over 25
nitrite= 1.5 - 2
nitrate= well is above 0 but below 20

I dont have a liquid kit and cant test for ammonia but the nitrite level went higher from yesterday but went down from the water change before the water change it was almost 5 around 4 or a bit above

 

[dthoffsett]

You don't need to pre-mix or let water stand before adding it. Since you aren't removing all the water everytime you change it, and the majority of your beneficial bacteria lives in your filter, unchlorinated water mixing with chlorinated water for the few seconds it takes the dechlorinator to work is highly unlikely to kill any bacteria. And, since your filters should be off while doing tank maintenance anyway, your new water doesn't come in contact with most of the bene bac until you're finished filling the tank.

For instance I use a python (drain-and-fill system) and add my dechlorinator to the stream of water while filling a tank. I do this on all my tanks ranging from 10gal to a heavily stocked 75gal with absolutely no problems.

 

[qdog69er]

i also changed my filter today because it has been in there for almost a month i have a starter 10gal tank that i got from walmart. Set it up on jan 2nd and has been running since untill the other day i had a fish doing bad and he died yesterday. So i was told to test it while he was dying and have been testing for two days now. I went today and bought 3 more fish an alge eater, upside down cat fish and a femal guppy. While i was at the store i got some new filters because i have never changed it also the gave my some stress coat to put in the tank before i put the new fish in but now i have did a 50% water change and should i put some more in or no??

 

[Mikaila31]

You shouldn't of changed your filter. That is were all your good bacteria lives. So now you are back to square one of the cycle, with even more fish. So you are going to end up with even high nitrite readings than you did before .

 

[qdog69er]

i still have the old filter should i put it back in ? And when should i change the filter?

 

[Hollymolly4]

Your old filter has probably dried out by now so any bacteria would be lost. While it's still cycling you should leave it. After the tank is cycled just make sure you don't do a big w/c and gravel cleaning at the same time as a filter change. I have a little bag of ceramic balls in my filter so there's always that bactera that won't get changed out.
Good luck!

 

[qdog69er]

well i just got home from work and did a 50 % water change. Before i did that i tested the water and the nitrite were down a bit to about a 2. The only problem is all i have is the stress coat to put in the water to de clorinate the water so i put in half a teaspoon and am letting the water cool down to room temp is about 80 degrees so then after that i will test again tonight around 9:00 and post my results. Also i have a upside down catfish and was wondering if i should buy another so that there are two of them it seems that the other fish seem to hangout in pairs and am wondering if that is why my other fish died?

 

[Mikaila31]

You don't have to let the water cool down. If you put your hand in the bucket then in the tank and the water feels like it is almost the same temp, you can add it. If it is too warm or cold just pour some down the drain and add water from the tap to get it closer to the temperature of the tank.

Don't buy any more fish until your tank finishes cycling. Adding more fish is only going to push the nitrite and ammonia higher, which is going to cause more stress on your fish. Which may result in them dieing. Read this thread.