Water Conditioning Question...

[ChaseTheBetta]

Usually, when I do water changes for Chase's tank, I just buy a gallon of spring water from the grocery store. This is cheaper than buying water conditioner when your tank is only 2 gallons.

But, I am contemplating getting another tank (either a 2 or 5 gallon, most likely for another betta), and my bro is going to get a tank, too. (He just joined here, his username is KraKen). So, since there will be more tanks, it will probably be cheaper and easier to just buy water conditioner.

When you use water conditioner, do you mix it in with the water in a bucket before it goes in the tank? Or can you just put the new water in the tank and then add the conditioner directly to the tank?

 

[Christine1014]

Most people will say put the water conditioner in the bucket. However, a lot of people (myself included) with bigger tanks use a Python gravel vac that hooks directly to your faucet to refill the tank. Since we're not filling buckets and the water's going directly into the tank, I think most of us put the water conditioner (enough to treat the whole tank) directly into the tank immediately before we start the refill.

 

[Genie]

i use an english brand, but that one you mix with half a ltre of warm water, then add to the bucket then add to the tank. (you can add it straight to the tank though, just means more working out of quantities. )

 

[Lorna]

Stress coat is a good water conditioner and it doesn't take a long time to figure out the right amount to add to the water in the bucket, swish it around then add to the tank.

 

[andywg]

Most people will say put the water conditioner in the bucket. However, a lot of people (myself included) with bigger tanks use a Python gravel vac that hooks directly to your faucet to refill the tank. Since we're not filling buckets and the water's going directly into the tank, I think most of us put the water conditioner (enough to treat the whole tank) directly into the tank immediately before we start the refill.

Almost

Most people put enough dechlor in to treat the new water. No point putting in enough dechlor for 100 gallons when only 20 gallons of water with chlorine is going in.

Best advice on dechlor is get a concentrated one such as pond ones or prime. These treat loads of water for very little. My dechlor I use at the mo does 80imp gallons from 10ml.

 

[ChaseTheBetta]

OK. I was going to just put the water in the tank, and then treat the whole tank. But thinking about it, if I just treat the new water in a bucket, I'll use less conditioner. So I'll probably just do that. Just have to buy a new bucket. The only buckets I have have been used for cleaning products and I don't want to use those for aquarium water.

 

[lilfishie]

with my betta tanks in do 100% water change so i add the dechlorinator then water with my community i add the dechlorinator to the bucket

 

[vinylman]

One question about buying the large (pond size) bottle of dechlorinator for use in an aquarium; how long is it good for after the bottle's been opened?.

 

[andywg]

One question about buying the large (pond size) bottle of dechlorinator for use in an aquarium; how long is it good for after the bottle's been opened?.

I assume forever. The sodium thiosulphate will stay in the soultion until it can bond to some chlorine. My last bottle lasted a good 6 months, and the current one should last about a year, even on changing 50-100 gallons per week.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

Most people will say put the water conditioner in the bucket. However, a lot of people (myself included) with bigger tanks use a Python gravel vac that hooks directly to your faucet to refill the tank. Since we're not filling buckets and the water's going directly into the tank, I think most of us put the water conditioner (enough to treat the whole tank) directly into the tank immediately before we start the refill.

Almost

Most people put enough dechlor in to treat the new water. No point putting in enough dechlor for 100 gallons when only 20 gallons of water with chlorine is going in.

Best advice on dechlor is get a concentrated one such as pond ones or prime. These treat loads of water for very little. My dechlor I use at the mo does 80imp gallons from 10ml.

i'd actually advise against that for small tanks

a bottle fo aquarium dechlor will last ages on little tanks, and the pond one's dosing's are aimed at large quantities of water, to treat 5-10litres you need a fraction of a millilitre so it's nigth on impossible to get an accurate measurement. i don't think there's actually much harm in overdosing dechlor but it's worthwhile pointing out that you will be overdosing most of the time if you use pond stuff on small tanks so be careful

 

[vinylman]

One question about buying the large (pond size) bottle of dechlorinator for use in an aquarium; how long is it good for after the bottle's been opened?.

I assume forever. The sodium thiosulphate will stay in the soultion until it can bond to some chlorine. My last bottle lasted a good 6 months, and the current one should last about a year, even on changing 50-100 gallons per week.

Thanks for that, Andy.