Adding Conditioner To Water?

Quick question I've never really thought of before... do you add the water conditioner to the old water before adding new water or can you do like a 50% water change and put the conditioner in after it's all done? I don't know which is better/worse for the fish?

 

TBH, by adding it to the old water you're just wasting conditioner. If you have one of the siphons that adds water directly to your tank from your tap, just add it in after, or during the fill up. That minute or two of exposure shouldn't do any damage.

 

Right, sorry I meant after I siphon out some of the old water should I add the conditioner in and then the fresh water or put the new water in first...if I add the conditioner first then it's really strong for them until I fully refill it but if I add it after then they're exposed to the regular water first... I feel like that's less harmful actually but I don't know if it would hurt the plants?

 

It's not as if water conditioner is toxic or anything. Adding it in before won't hurt anything.

 

Oh ok... I thought in more than the recommended amount it might be dangerous. The kind I got is pretty concentrated so one capful does 60 gallons and I only have a 16 gallon so I've been trying to be super careful (Obviously I won't just wing it all now but I feel better about that now lol)

 

When I used to use buckets for water changes I would treat each bucket of water before pouring it into the tank. Now that I use a Python (best invention ever!) After removing the desired amount of water I add enough Prime to treat the whole tank, then start refilling.

 

I just fill first then condition. Doesnt seem like a big deal. I would imagine treating it first would be better tho.

 

Seachem Prime directions: "May be added to aquarium directly, but better if added to new water first. If adding directly to aquarium, base dose on aquarium volume". So if you're using a hose from the sink like me then treat the whole volume of the tank. I have a 55 gallon so I base the dose on 55g. If you do a bucket brigade then dose each bucket by it's volume.

 

I actually am super fortunate, we don't have chlorine in our tap water so I don't use water conditioner routinely once a tank is established.

I do use Prime in new tanks when ever I add new fish just in case I get an ammonia spike since my tanks are all small, and always keep it on hand in the event of things that would also cause ammonia (fish/plant death mostly).