Water Changes Straight From Tap

[DanielG]

Hello all,

I read somewhere on here the other day that you can re-fill your tank after a water change straight from the tap providing you add the dechlorinator to the tank before adding the tap water.

Is this a viable option? I know that the chlorine kills bacteria and wondered how long it takes for the dechlorinator to get to work and whether some bacteria will die?

PS just found out LFS stocks refridgerated bactinettes!! Setting up new tank this week!

 

[@ombomb]

Yes you can, just add some dechlor first, then more as you add the water.

The big problem doing it this way is getting the temperature right.

 

[Lynda B]

We add our water using a Python direct from the tank. We've worked with the handle settings on the tap until we can now duplicate the temperature coming out of the tap with the temperature of the tanks. We fill it up and then add our Prime (dechlor).

 

[reggieschuey]

yea you can do it. especially when you have a larger tank and it much quicker. I usually do it, just attach the hose from tap to tank. i bought one of those garden hose for tank use only. I wouldn't suggest leaving the tank hose outside though. I normally add the declorinator/anti stress thing whilst the tank is getting filled again .

 

[Miss Wiggle]

yeah we do it, just run a hose straight to the tank, just run it in relativley slowly so the heaters have a chance to kick in and heat the water up a bit as it's coming in.

 

[andywg]

Or, just bung it in from the cold tap on full bore. I do it on 30-40% changes in a tank with no heaters and see less than 2 degrees C change. This is more than acceptable, and nice and quick.

 

[rdd1952]

I also add it straight from the tap with a Python but I would suggest adding the dechlor at he end rather than before you add the water.

 

[Tolak]

I've added dechlor before, during, and after filling tanks with a hose, it doesn't seem to make any difference.

 

[*Fishkies*]

I do from the tap, try to match the water temperature though close with what the tank is. I add my dechlorinator while adding water into the tank. And then after the whole water change I add a little bit more.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

Or, just bung it in from the cold tap on full bore. I do it on 30-40% changes in a tank with no heaters and see less than 2 degrees C change. This is more than acceptable, and nice and quick.

killed a few cardinal tetra's doing that on a 50% change on Ians tank once. While it's OK on an average sized change, I tend to do big water changes and run the water in a bit slowly. cos i don't have to give the tanks my full attention when I'm doing it i find it doesn't waste too much time, I just potter round and do some housework or something while the tanks filling.

 

[Bullrock74]

There is some debate about whether or not it is even necessary to put in dechlorinator.

I AM NOT SAYING YOU SHOULDN'T ADD IT...JUST SAYING THERE IS A DEBATE.

I have on multiple occasions done a 15% water change and not added any dechlorinator at all. No ill effects were noticed at all.

AGAIN, I'M NOT SAYING THIS WOULD WORK FOR YOU! SO DON'T GO WILLYNILLY AND STOP USING DECHLORINATORS, PLEASE!

 

[rdd1952]

There is some debate about whether or not it is even necessary to put in dechlorinator.

I AM NOT SAYING YOU SHOULDN'T ADD IT...JUST SAYING THERE IS A DEBATE.

I have on multiple occasions done a 15% water change and not added any dechlorinator at all. No ill effects were noticed at all.

AGAIN, I'M NOT SAYING THIS WOULD WORK FOR YOU! SO DON'T GO WILLYNILLY AND STOP USING DECHLORINATORS, PLEASE!

If the tap water has only chlorine and no chloramines, then the chlorine would disipate in about 24 hours so you probably wouldnt see any ill effects. The bacteria loss would probably be minimal too. If however the tap water has chloramine which will not disipate, it could be more of an issue.

As you said, some research now shows that the nitrifying bacteria aren't harmed by chlorine as they have developed an immunity to it. It will still burn the fish's gills though until is disipates and precautions should be taken to remove it. Declor it relatively cheap so it's not really worth risking the fish to save a little money.

 

[Behold]

surly the dechlor take 5 mins? so during the fill leave the filter off for 10? that way no bactiria would get hit by the non treated water....

Just a thought.

 

[andywg]

surly the dechlor take 5 mins? so during the fill leave the filter off for 10? that way no bactiria would get hit by the non treated water....

Just a thought.

De-chlor actually acts instantly (or as close as makes no difference to us). Tolak got to view a demonstration from a rep where the chlorine in the water was tagged by a tagging agent to show up yellow.

 

[Behold]

surly the dechlor take 5 mins? so during the fill leave the filter off for 10? that way no bactiria would get hit by the non treated water....

Just a thought.

De-chlor actually acts instantly (or as close as makes no difference to us). Tolak got to view a demonstration from a rep where the chlorine in the water was tagged by a tagging agent to show up yellow.

Sorted then!!! I would probably still wait 5 mins for it to mix well just to save a few bacterias!!!