JRunyon21

Basically I need help with buying a water conditioner. I have used Aquasafe so far on all my previous water conditioning situations. I have run out and am looking for new one. I am going through a fishless cycle so I do not need to remove ammonia or Nitrites. I just need the best water conditioner that removes chlorine and chloramine.

Thanks Everyone.

Dino

Though I do not use any ( I am on a well), I would use the product that has the least additives.

Shawnie

I use prime..hmm and I thought everyone had to use something..im on a well also ...Im learning something new daily!!!

Butterfly

If it doesn't have any Chlorine or Chloramines added(Dino doesn't) you don't need a dechlor

Shawnie

what about any other minerals n things that mite be there? geez could I possibly save some money not using it LOL

angelfish220

I have fresh spring water, on our own system, no chlorine or anything, but I can tell a big differance in fish when I use prime and when I dont. And I get paranoid alot

susitna-flower

I am on a well too, and most times I don't use any conditioner, but the other day, I was doing a water change and my redline sharks started stressing out.....they were floating nose up at the top of the tank, the only thing I had done was add water of the same temp. So I had some prime on hand, and added it. The fish were A-OK within about 5 minutes, I speculated that spring water flow might have changed in the ground stiring up more minerals or something. I am going to continue to keep it on hand just in case.

angelfish220

Also you have to watch what your pipes are made out of. Hardy Fish can do okay with copper piping, but really sensitive stuff (I figured out from tadpoles) can die from the copper in the water, so there is another reason I condition my water.

chickadee

Prime and other water conditioners take a few other things out of the water other than Chlorine and Chloramine and those are the things that the fish may be reacting to in the well water. They also remove what are known as "Heavy Metals" and those can be just as deadly.

I personally used NovAqua+ as I like the idea that it not only conditions the water but contains echinacea and vitamins for my fish. They seem to thrive on it but they also get VitaChem for freshwater fish and so perhaps I am fooling myself. I buy it by the gallon as I am running quite a few tanks. I do keep StressCoat on hand though for times when I feel my fish would benefit from a little aloe in their tanks to calm them down. You do have to watch the StressCoat though as the aloe does not evaporate and if you use it as a Conditioner full time, eventually the aloe in the water will build up to a level after the water has evaporated and the water will foam like you have dish soap in the tank. It does not hurt the fish but can scare the fishkeeper half out of their wits.

Rose

sirdarksol

Even if I was on a well here, I would probably need to use something like Prime or Ultimate, just to pull some of the heavy metals out of the water.

JRunyon21

What just happened to my thread? Why did this thread become a topic about well water. I do not have well water and I need a chlorine and chloramine remover. Also, a lot of people have said they use prime. Prime does remove chlorine and chloramine but also removes ammonia. This may be ideal for some people but this is not good for me(As I stated before). Removing ammonia from the water could possibly destroy the bacteria established in my tank since it will haven nothing to feed on.

Does anyone have any input on some water conditioners that remove chlorine and chloramine without removing other chemicals? I have used Aquasafe before. What is the best?

RiffDawg15

JRunyan, just use prime it is probably a fish experts most used conditioner. I think everyone would agree that prime is probably one of the best if not the best conditioner on the market.

Everyone I know uses it and I have never heard or have any complaints. It works great!

sirdarksol

Threads around here change topic of their own accord. It's just something to get used to. Just give us a friendly reminder of your question, and we'll get back to it.

As far as the "best" dechlorinator, if all you want is something that removes chlorine/chloramine, there isn't a best. In my opinion, if you have chlorine, the most cost effective removal technique is time. Let the water age over 24 hours or so, and the chlorine will evaporate (this doesn't work with chloramine, which is now the more common chemical used). As for chemicals, the only real differences between dechlorinators are the added stuff removed. If you don't want to remove the extra stuff, look for whatever brand says that it just dechlorinates.

Gargoyle

I use API http://aquariumpharm.com/Products/Pr...x?ProductID=46

JRunyon21

Lol. Thanks for the input everyone. As for the well water issue.

How do you know if you are on a well?

I'm pretty sure I'm not but just in case.

joy613

A good sign you aren't on a well is you have a water bill every month, some landlords pay the water bills as part of the rent agreement. Most cities do have their own water system, most likely if you live out in the country you are on a well.

Shawnie

If your tank is established, and you are just doing water changes and need a dechlorinator, prime is the one to use...it wont kill the bacteria colony thats established...if its a new tank set up, you dont want to use prime with bio-spira ....does that help at all?

JRunyon21

Thank you.
Prime for water changes.
Aquasafe or NutraFin for new tank(cycling).

Thanks everyone. I was under the impression that if you used Prime your tank would become dependent on it. B/c there would be no ammonia and the established bacteria would die. That would mean the only way to kill(remove) ammonia would be to add more Prime. Thanks for the clear up.


Deff not on a well.
That means I have to use a tap water conditioner. Right?
If I don't I have been wasting my money.

sirdarksol

Yes. If you're paying for water, it's a municipal supply, which means it has to be treated, which means you need dechlorinator.

(See, I told you we'd get around to answering your questions )

Gargoyle

Not to Hijack or anything but whats the big deal about "Prime" ??

I've never used it because my little 1.99 bottle does me just fine for about 8 months. But I am curious none the less..

Shawnie

hmmm prime takes out all the nawty minerals (chlorine chlorimide etc)in city water...and most of us do weekly water changes and its a must...although im finding out I dont have to use it as often with well water cause I dont have all the nawty things in it LOL

Gargoyle

I have a 55 a 29 a 40 and a 10 gallon that I do weekly water changes on. I have city water and I've never used it...

Sorry, gonna need a better reason...

Butterfly

I understand your question completely. Until we moved last year I used Wardleys Dechlor bought at WalMart for $1.97. It did everything i needed. Now we have moved to another state and Seemed like nothing I could do kept my fish or plants happy. I used prime for the first time a few months ago and there was such a dramatic change in all my tanks. So I guess it depends on what is needed on an individual basis.
Carol

Shawnie

what do you use for the city water to remove chlorine n stuffs?

Gargoyle

For about 3.50 USD I use API tap water conditioner. It removes chlorine, Chloramine, and detoxes heavy metals just like prime and lasts about 8 months on my 4 tanks. (does not touch ammonia, nitrites, or nitrates in any way. So it does not have a chance to mess with the cycle.)

From what I have read Prime also has a smell... This does not..

Shawnie

ahh ok..so its just a preference thingy then and as far as a smell, ill have to check that out tomorrow on water change day LOL ive not noticed one prior

Gargoyle

I can see that... Different water at different places.. Our city water was actually bottled and shipped to Louisiana after the hurricane. I do have exceptional quality city water where I live.