Help: Dechlorinatiors

srinidynamic · April 18th, 2009

Hi guys ,
I am a engineer from india.In my area only tap water available.So i add potassium permanganate to remove chlorine.And water becomes purple in color.Will it affect my fish (flower horn).Should i must use gravels to make this chemical to settle down.Kindly advice me..

Llama · April 18th, 2009

You should buy a dechlorinator for aquariums. The problem is tap water usually has chloramides (not sure if I spelt it well), which I'm not sure that permanganade removes.

If you can't get a dechlorinator for aquariums, I would suggest trying activated carbon, it MAY remove the purple colour - not too sure though.

mathas · April 18th, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by srinidynamic

So i add potassium permanganate to remove chlorine.And water becomes purple in color.Will it affect my fish

It might affect your fish, depending on how much you added. It can also have a negative effect on the nitrifying bacteria, as well.

Quote:

Like chlorine, potassium permanganate is utterly unselective in its action. Oxidizers react with any organic: bacteria, protists, algae, DOC and particulate detritus-- but also the delicate epidermis covering fish gills. And the toxic level of KMnO4 is only slightly higher than its therapeutic level of 2ppm. For one thing, it will decimate the desirable nitrifying bacteria in your sponge filter as fast as it acts on unwanted bacteria elsewhere.

...

That liberated O2 which oxidizes any organic material it encounters, can burn your fishes' gills as thoroughly as chlorine. The gill lamellae may form scar tissue that permanently affects their efficiency, leaving your fish forever gasping for oxygen. "Scaleless" fishes that are sensitive to all medicaments, are especially vulnerable to potassium permanganate. In years gone by, goldfish were dipped for up to 90 minutes in a potassium permanganate solution; they would survive, apparently fine, but die from gill damage as much as several weeks afterwards.

...

The potency of potassium permanganate depends on the organic content of the water; in addition, it's good to be aware that KMnO4 is more potent in water with a low pH. Besides organic content and pH, its toxicity to fishes also varies according to hardness, and even depends on temperature. Common dosing levels range from 2 to 4 PPM.

http://www.skepticalaquarist.com/doc...h/potper.shtml

srinidynamic · April 20th, 2009

Thanks for your advice... Now i find that my fish happy after using a carbon filter.It makes the water crystal clear removing all dissolved particles also..

jdhef · April 21st, 2009

Welcome to FishLore

Just be sure to replace your carbon every three to four weeks. If you don't, it will become saturated with impurities and is said to actually leach toxins back into the tank.

ccb04 · April 21st, 2009

Carbon will remove DOC's (Disolved Organic Compounds) ... in addition to medication and dyes. Thus the affect you're seeing with the PP and it's associated color. As mentioned ... you must be vigilant in changing the carbon out every 2-4 weeks.

As was previously suggested ... it's best to get a good aquarium dechlorinator.

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