Water changes with Python; overdosing prime

Ok, so this may be a silly question, but I've been debating about getting the python changer... However what confuses me is when the prime is added????

Right now when I do water changes I fill a four gallon bucket (larger and I spill it everywhere ) and add the prime to the bucket, let it sit while I take care of the tank, then add it back in...
With the python, the water is added directly to the tank and then prime is dosed after????? Or am I missing something? Wouldn't the water harm the fish without the prime first?
If I didn't got the python and just added four gallons at a time then dosed the entire amount with prime would this be harmful?
If I

Meaning if I add the water slowly and then add prime is there an amount of time before the water harms my fish?

Also, when doing my water changes I regularly overdose the prime, using the bottom cap thread per four gallons... I believe it is usually for 10.... Is this bad? My cycle is great so I'm not trying to detoxify anything, just neutralizing the chloramines and such...should I stop doing this?
How do you add only the correct amount of prime??? I've tried with a syringe but getting it out of the bottle that way is a nightmare!

 

Prime is able to be added 5x the amount of water volume. if your not exceeding this then you are not going to over dose prime. Just dose your tank volume every time you do a water change.

 

I use the python changer what I do is dose all my needed chems for the full volume of the tank after I drain the water let it sit for 5-10 minutes while matching temps and then fill the tank back up ....haven't had any problems yet

 

Wow! So each bucked doesn't have to be dosed individually????
And for the python, dose prime before adding water not after???
Whole new world to me! Anything I dose I always do it in the bucket vs tank... Keeps me doing more water changes for me to dose flourish....

 

Yes - dose the Prime before you add water. The chlorine or chloramine in the water is harmful to your fish and you want the prime to start neutralizing it the moment it hits the tank.

I use buckets rather than a python and often dose the buckets twice (before and after added water) because I'm not positive I've added the prime before adding water to the bucket. So dosing for 10 gallons rather than 4 is no problem at all. As another poster said, Prime is safe at 5X the recommended dose.

 

I do 50% water changes every week. I dose the whole tank volume every time. I have 0.25 ammonia in my tap so I always dose my entire tank just to be safe.

In your case, just add prime then add new water. add flourish before or after.

 

Using a python with buckets. Would completely defeat the purpose of the python lol. Yes dose befor. Especially with prime cause its near impossible to overdose..

 

I use my Python on all 3 of my tanks, 25-50% water change each week. My process is:
Drain the tanks one at a time with Python. Dose the remaining water in each tank with Prime for the full volume of the tank. Refill each tank with Python.

 

I use a $7 water pump to put water back into my tanks. I tried lifting buckets and all that but always made a mess

 

Thank you for asking these questions. I always wondered about them but felt silly asking them. I need to get a python. 50% water changes on a 75 gallon with a 5 gallon bucket is killing me.

 

Thank you for asking these questions. I always wondered about them but felt silly asking them. I need to get a python. 50% water changes on a 75 gallon with a 5 gallon bucket is killing me.

Do you have a window close to the tank you could throw water out of?
I bought an extension to the gravel vacuum I had, and I just syphon the water right into my side yard.
I do have a 30gal bin to fill with clean water then I use a water pump to put water back in the tank.

 

No window, but the tub is pretty close!

 

Thank you for asking these questions. I always wondered about them but felt silly asking them. I need to get a python. 50% water changes on a 75 gallon with a 5 gallon bucket is killing me.

I have a 125g first time I put water in the tank I used a 5 gallon bucket and immediately stoped after the 1st round and did a little more research and ordered the python that night lol

 

I have a 125g first time I put water in the tank I used a 5 gallon bucket and immediately stoped after the 1st round and did a little more research and ordered the python that night lol

There is no way I am using a bucket on anything larger than my 75!