Water Conditoners

[reg]

What's the best water conditioner? I used Novaqua for years but recently learned that it doesn't remove chloramines, which my tap water contains. Thus, I bought AmQuel plus to use with the tank I'm about to set up; however, I spoke with someone who has concerns about Novaqua not actually removing chlorine, but rather neutralizing it, as well as its buffering capability. Do you have experience with these products? Is AquaSafe better? Do I need to add conditioner when cycling my tank or just before I add the fish?

Thanks!!!!!

 

[Tolak]

That's sort of like asking what's the best pizza. Much of it depends on your individual situation, and your water supply. Here's a good review of water conditioners; http/www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/rev-cond.htm

The only way to actually remove chlorine is with a ro filter, tratments neuteralize it so it isn't harmful to fish. The buffering effect of any treatment will only affect extremely soft water. You will need to add a dechlorinator to a cycling tank, chlorine & chloramine will inhibit your nitrifying bacteria from growing.

 

[reg]

Thank you very much. Is it okay to mix water conditioners, i.e. start with AquaSafe and then use Novaqua?

That's sort of like asking what's the best pizza. Much of it depends on your individual situation, and your water supply. Here's a good review of water conditioners; http/www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/rev-cond.htm

The only way to actually remove chlorine is with a ro filter, tratments neuteralize it so it isn't harmful to fish. The buffering effect of any treatment will only affect extremely soft water. You will need to add a dechlorinator to a cycling tank, chlorine & chloramine will inhibit your nitrifying bacteria from growing.

 

[WILDER]

Just use the aqua safe no need for the other one.

 

[reg]

Thank you! I am asking because I already own a lot of Novaqua but have a small packet of AquaSafe that came with the kit; I'd like to be able to use my novaqua unless it will cause problems.

Just use the aqua safe no need for the other one.

 

[WILDER]

Novaqua never heard of it but is dosn't sound value for money, i use tetra aquasafe and never had any promblems with it.

 

[Tolak]

Aquasafe is the better product. Novaqua will neuteralize chlorine & chloramine, but will do nothing for the ammonia that is left when the chloramine is split into it's components of chlorine & ammonia. It will work in a mature tank when doing smaller water changes, as long as you don't have more sensitive fish. Your bio filtration will take care of the slight ammonia increase with a smaller water change.

A friend of mine was using novaqua for years in his angel breeding setup. He started having problems with fry dying off last winter, due to our water company increasing chloramine in the winter. Large water changes along with increased chloramine was causing a large ammo spike after water changes. I've been using Prime for years, gave him some, problem solved.

 

[reg]

I'm planning on using AmQuel with the Novaqua; does this change things?

Aquasafe is the better product. Novaqua will neuteralize chlorine & chloramine, but will do nothing for the ammonia that is left when the chloramine is split into it's components of chlorine & ammonia. It will work in a mature tank when doing smaller water changes, as long as you don't have more sensitive fish. Your bio filtration will take care of the slight ammonia increase with a smaller water change.

A friend of mine was using novaqua for years in his angel breeding setup. He started having problems with fry dying off last winter, due to our water company increasing chloramine in the winter. Large water changes along with increased chloramine was causing a large ammo spike after water changes. I've been using Prime for years, gave him some, problem solved.

 

[Tolak]

Novaqua is nothing more than sodium thiosulfate, which neuteralizes chlorine, and breaks the chlorine/ammonia bond in chloramine. Aquasafe contains this, along with sodium hydromethane sulfinate, which converts the ammonia to ammonium. Ammonium is safe for fish, but is stioll converted by your bio filtration the same as ammonia.

Smaller water changes use the novaqua, I use home mixed sodium thiosulfate in the summer when there is less chloramine, and on tanks with less sensitive fish. More sensitive fish such as smaller fry tanks get Prime year round. In the winter months all the tanks get Prime.

If you want to be totally safe with the novaqua, pick up some ammo-lock to go along with it. If it were me I would try the aquasafe with the novaqua, using half the needed amounts of each. I would start with a tank with larger fish, this would be nickel or larger body size angels, just to see if they are ok with it.

 

[reg]

My tank will be containing peal danios and later cories; I haven't set it up yet.

Novaqua is nothing more than sodium thiosulfate, which neuteralizes chlorine, and breaks the chlorine/ammonia bond in chloramine. Aquasafe contains this, along with sodium hydromethane sulfinate, which converts the ammonia to ammonium. Ammonium is safe for fish, but is stioll converted by your bio filtration the same as ammonia.

Smaller water changes use the novaqua, I use home mixed sodium thiosulfate in the summer when there is less chloramine, and on tanks with less sensitive fish. More sensitive fish such as smaller fry tanks get Prime year round. In the winter months all the tanks get Prime.

If you want to be totally safe with the novaqua, pick up some ammo-lock to go along with it. If it were me I would try the aquasafe with the novaqua, using half the needed amounts of each. I would start with a tank with larger fish, this would be nickel or larger body size angels, just to see if they are ok with it.