When to add conditioner during Weekly water changes

I have a 10 gallon tank for my Betta fish, I was wondering about weekly/bI weekly water changes. The water conditioner I use says one cap full for every 10 gallons.
I use Tankfirst complete aquarium water conditioner. I was wondering do I add a full cap to the new water before I add it to the aquarium? Since i'm not sure how much to add if I only take out about 2 gallons of water.


I was also advised to do a 20% water change ever 2 weeks as I am unable to do it every week.

 

Only doing a 20% change will eventually get you behind and cause health problems for your fish down the road. If you're going to bother changing the water, do 50% anyway to make it worth wild.

I recommend adding the conditioner to the water before it goes into the tank, but that's just me. I don't know that brand of conditioner. What does it do exactly? Is it a dechlorinator? Does it bind ammonia and nitrites? Is it safe to overdose? The only water conditioner I know about is Prime, sorry.

 

Only doing a 20% change will eventually get you behind and cause health problems for your fish down the road. If you're going to bother changing the water, do 50% anyway to make it worth wild.

I recommend adding the conditioner to the water before it goes into the tank, but that's just me. I don't know that brand of conditioner. What does it do exactly? Is it a dechlorinator? Does it bind ammonia and nitrites? Is it safe to overdose? The only water conditioner I know about is Prime, sorry.

It is
TankFirst Complete Aquarium Water Conditioner - Fish Water Conditioner, Instantly Removes Chlorine, Chloramines, Ammonia and Nitrites
from amazon, and what would you recommend for water changes?
I read on one of these forums that 20% would be suitable since its a filtered tank.

 

Water changes are to lower nitrates, which are a byproduct of your cycle, but its also to replenish trace elements that your fish need to stay healthy. If you're going to do a water change, 50% is a good place to start/be, especially on a small tank, to make sure you keep the water healthy.

Personally Id drain 50% of the water and premix the new water in a 5 gallon bucket with the conditioner and then add it back into the tank.

 

Alright thank you for the help.

 

It is
TankFirst Complete Aquarium Water Conditioner - Fish Water Conditioner, Instantly Removes Chlorine, Chloramines, Ammonia and Nitrites
from amazon, and what would you recommend for water changes?
I read on one of these forums that 20% would be suitable since its a filtered tank.

I highly doubt it REMOVES ammonia and nitrite. It may detoxify it temporarily like prime does. But no product can remove ammonia from your tank.

 

airia if it can only be done every 2 wks then 50% as DuaneV stated.

I do mine weekly every sunday and 30% is took out and my tanks 100 litres and I add 10ml of API stress zyme and 10ml of Stess coat besides Aquasafe in the water...you have to go by the instructions of the size of your tank.

 

I highly doubt it REMOVES ammonia and nitrite. It may detoxify it temporarily like prime does. But no product can remove ammonia from your tank.

Prime does not do that either. It's only a de-chlorinator from information on the web.

 

I highly doubt it REMOVES ammonia and nitrite. It may detoxify it temporarily like prime does. But no product can remove ammonia from your tank.

I just copied the title from amazon, they usually like to inflate the product I suspect, but reading the actual description it does just detoxify, as the other does.

 

Prime does not to that either. It's only a de-chlorinator from information on the web.

Prime does detoxify ammonia and nitrites 1.0ppm and under for 24 hours. Where did you hear otherwise??

 

Prime does detoxify ammonia and nitrites 1.0ppm and under for 24 hours. Where did you hear otherwise??

Sorry... Seachem Prime vs API Tap Water Conditioner and Others

 

airia if it can only be done every 2 wks then 50% as DuaneV stated.

I do mine weekly every sunday and 30% is took out and my tanks 100 litres and I add 10ml of API stress zyme and 10ml of Stess coat besides Aquasafe in the water...you have to go by the instructions of the size of your tank.

The only problem with this is, if your tank is producing as little as 10ppm of nitrates per week:

Week 1: 10ppm, 30% change, 7ppm left
Week 2: 17ppm, 30% change, 12ppm left
Week 3: 22ppm, 30% change, 15.5ppm left
Week 4: 25.5ppm, 30% change, 18ppm left

Youll never NOT lose this battle. They will CONSTANTLY rise. Even If you changed 50%:

Week 1: 10ppm, 50%, 5ppm left
Week 2: 15ppm, 50%, 7.5ppm left
Week 3: 22.5ppm, 50%, 11.25ppm left
Week 4: 21.25ppm, 50%, 10.75ppm

So you can at least slow them down if not reverse them doing larger changes. And this is if your tank only produces 10ppm per week. I don't think most people actually know what their tanks producing every 7 days. And this isn't counting missing a week, etc. At some point you'll have to do a larger change. No reason to let them build up and up and up. Just do a bigger change if you're doing it. Spend another 5 or 10 minutes to get a little more water out.

Prime does not do that either. It's only a de-chlorinator from information on the web.

According to Seachem themselves, Prime will bind ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate for 24-48 hours. After that if they are still present, will be released. That's what the company who makes the product says.

 

The only problem with this is, if your tank is producing as little as 10ppm of nitrates per week:

I know I test my waters weekly and my ammonia is always 0ppm, Nitrate 0ppm and Nitrate 5.0ppm and they never go any higher.

 

According to Seachem themselves, Prime will bind ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate for 24-48 hours. After that if they are still present, will be released. That's what the company who makes the product says.

Again... Sorry... Please see the above post.

 

You're linking to a post YOU wrote and link to some random article on the internet. Yeah, Ill take those as gospel (that's sarcasm).

I don't have a dog in this fight, Ive never used any water conditioner in my life. However, when Seachem Prime is probably the leading water conditioner on the market and Seachem claims it binds to ammonia and nitrites for 24-48 hours, Ill take their word over some random guy on the internet.

 

I am just the messenger. The web site defines the tests performed and the proof that it does not work. However, from the Seachem forum they make the following statement...

"All water conditioners only have the ability to bind to ammonia, nitrites and/or nitrates for a limited period of time; Prime actually will do this for a longer period than any other product available."

I'll let you find it on Seachems web site yourself like I did. Funny... if Seachem says their stuff last longer than any other product that means they have tested and verified that fact. Please find those details and test results with the names of the other water conditioners please.

So now instead of stating that Prime cannot do what it claims, it's easier to state that ALL water conditioners can bind all the above. Then make the statement they can do it longer, like what 5 minutes longer? Maybe they put some magic in it?

However, other manufactures do not make this wild claim, but I have not verified ALL the manufactures of water conditioners. I know API does not make this claim.

I'm beginning to believe that putting a banana peel sitting on your lid will reduce your chance of ick by 50% because someone said it would.

 

I know API does not make this claim

Well I only use API products but as the saying goes everyone to their own on how they look after there fish and products they use

 

Hi all, quick question. Currently when I do my water change it requires about 5 buckets to which i add dechlorinator to each bucket before filling in the aquarium.

Can I add all the buckets in first and then add the dechlorinator straight into the aquarium? Would this kill some of my bacteria or its still safe?

 

You technically could I guess but I wouldn't recommend it. The way you are currently doing your water changes is just fine... why do you want to change it?

 

You can put it in first before the water. I wouldn't do it after the water.

 

You technically could I guess but I wouldn't recommend it. The way you are currently doing your water changes is just fine... why do you want to change it?

each bucket is like 2 gallons and the amount of dechlorinator needed is very small which means I add a bit more than whats required since i dont want to measure a miniscule amount, this however has seen my dechlorinator finish rather quickly If i could just add it at the end I would be able to add just the right amount of dechlorinator needed.

You can put it in first before the water. I wouldn't do it after the water.

so add declorinator into the aquarium and then add the buckets into it? ok that makes sense

 

each bucket is like 2 gallons and the amount of dechlorinator needed is very small which means I add a bit more than whats required since i dont want to measure a miniscule amount, this however has seen my dechlorinator finish rather quickly If i could just add it at the end I would be able to add just the right amount of dechlorinator needed.

Like StarGirl15 said, you can add it in before. Also, what conditioner are you using? If you are using prime you can just tip it over a little and a drop will come out. Each gallon needs 2 drops, but i would add an extra drop overall(so in one bucket add a extra drop or two just in case).

 

Put the dechlor into the buckets of new water. Then add buckets of new water that have been dechlorinated into your tank

 

so add declorinator into the aquarium and then add the buckets into it? ok that makes sense

Yes. Thats what the fancy people with Pythons do . That way no one gets chlorine poisoned.

 

Like StarGirl15 said, you can add it in before. Also, what conditioner are you using? If you are using prime you can just tip it over a little and a drop will come out. Each gallon needs 2 drops, but i would add an extra drop overall(so in one bucket add a extra drop or two just in case).

Yes. Thats what the fancy people with Pythons do . That way no one gets chlorine poisoned.

using Tetra aquaplus. ok so let me confirm.
1.) Empty out 10 gallons of water from aquarium
2.) Add dechlorinator for about 11 gallons to be safe into aquarium
3.) add 10 gallons of tap water

hopefully beneficial bacteria wont die...yikes

 

using Tetra aquaplus. ok so let me confirm.
1.) Empty out 10 gallons of water from aquarium
2.) Add dechlorinator for about 11 gallons to be safe into aquarium
3.) add 10 gallons of tap water

hopefully beneficial bacteria wont die...yikes

It wont if you do it this way. Just make sure tap water is temp compatible to your tank.

 

using Tetra aquaplus. ok so let me confirm.
1.) Empty out 10 gallons of water from aquarium
2.) Add dechlorinator for about 11 gallons to be safe into aquarium
3.) add 10 gallons of tap water

hopefully beneficial bacteria wont die...yikes

It should be fine. Don't worry too much about it, tap water isn't as harmful as people sometimes make it out to be. As long as you add the conditioner beforehand its fine. Make sure the temp isn't too far apart, maybe a 1 degree difference but same temp would be ideal.

 

using Tetra aquaplus. ok so let me confirm.
1.) Empty out 10 gallons of water from aquarium
2.) Add dechlorinator for about 11 gallons to be safe into aquarium
3.) add 10 gallons of tap water

hopefully beneficial bacteria wont die...yikes

If you are going to add the dechlorinator and then fill it back up add enough dechlorinator for all the water in the tank and not just the amount you are replacing. I do all of my water changes with buckets so just add it to each bucket but from everything I've read folks that use a python type system treat the full volume of the tank first. In the long run you may end up using just as much conditioner as you would by treating each bucket before pouring it in there.

One more thing. Turn your filter off before refilling so no untreated water gets to your media.

 

If you are going to add the dechlorinator and then fill it back up add enough dechlorinator for all the water in the tank and not just the amount you are replacing. I do all of my water changes with buckets so just add it to each bucket but from everything I've read folks that use a python type system treat the full volume of the tank first. In the long run you may end up using just as much conditioner as you would by treating each bucket before pouring it in there.

One more thing. Turn your filter off before refilling so no untreated water gets to your media.

i went through like a bottle quite fast and I figured there's gotta be an easier way. oh dear well let me think about this then

 

i went through like a bottle quite fast and I figured there's gotta be an easier way. oh dear well let me think about this then

I used to use aqua safe plus but have since switched to seachem prime. It seems more expensive at first but it is very concentrated so doesn't take near as much of it to do the same job. I still have a huge bottle of Aqua safe but will save it for hard times. The less of anything I have to add to my tanks the better I feel about it.

 

You will use less product if you only treat the buckets of water before adding to the tank , otherwise you need to use enough product to treat the whole tank volume

“stay fishy “

 

You definitely do not want to add water before treating it. You can continue like you are and treat each bucket before adding to your tank, you can do what the "Python" people do, and add the treatment to the tank before adding the water, or, this is what I do... I have a 20g tank, and usually change three 5g buckets. I use prime, and it calls for 2ml for 20 gallons. I treat the first bucket as it's filling with 2ml from a syringe. then add the next two buckets untreated. The Prime is already in the tank water doing it's job as the new water goes in. It doesn't stop working after the first bucket is added, so it's safe to add the next two buckets. Whatever you do, do not add untreated water to your tank.

 

I use prime, and it calls for 2ml for 20 gallons. I treat the first bucket as it's filling with 2ml from a syringe. then add the next two buckets untreated.

I like this, and it works for you right? sounds like the safe option as well.

Thanks everyone for your input!

 

I like this, and it works for you right? sounds like the safe option as well.

Thanks everyone for your input!

Just realize Mongo is adding enough to treat the full volume of his tank, not just enough to treat the amount of water he is replacing. What he is doing is basically what folks that use the python type system but is refilling with buckets instead of a hose. Prime is very concentrated so it just takes 1ml of it to treat 10 gallons of water.

 

I like this, and it works for you right? sounds like the safe option as well.

Thanks everyone for your input!

Yes, it's the easiest way for me. I haven't done the math, but with substrate, plants and decorations, there's probably 1 to 3 gallons less water than the the 20g the tank is rated at. I also fill my bucket to about 2 inches from the top, so maybe I'm adding 4 to 4.5 gallons each bucket, but like mattgirl said, I'm basically dosing for the full 20g, not the 13 or 14 gallons I'm adding and I've never had any problems.

 

At $60 Australian a litre I used a 30 cent hypodermic syringe to measure Prime. The instructions clearly state a double dose is an overdose in my summer time temperature and 5 times the recommended dose is an overdose at normal tropical temperatures.
When doing multiple water changes each week I think you should be careful adding extra Prime as it remains active for 48 hours. When no chlorine is left I am told it consumes oxygen.

 

It wont if you do it this way. Just make sure tap water is temp compatible to your tank.

If you dont mind me asking a follow up question. How long do you have to add the new water? Like 10 minutes or 10 hours?

 

When no chlorine is left I am told it consumes oxygen.

I think that would be considered a case of someone pulling your leg here in the US or in some places it would just be considered misinformation or someone telling a tall tale.

I truly don't believe it will affect the amount of oxygen in our tanks in any harmful way unless someone used much much more than necessary.

 

At $60 Australian a litre I used a 30 cent hypodermic syringe to measure Prime. The instructions clearly state a double dose is an overdose in my summer time temperature and 5 times the recommended dose is an overdose at normal tropical temperatures.
When doing multiple water changes each week I think you should be careful adding extra Prime as it remains active for 48 hours. When no chlorine is left I am told it consumes oxygen.

Pardon me, but where exactly does it say anything about an overdose?

Directions
Use 1 capful (5 mL) for each 200 L (50 US gallons) of new water. For smaller volumes, please note each cap thread is approximately 1 mL. May be added to aquarium directly, but better if added to new water first. If adding directly to aquarium, base dose on aquarium volume. Sulfur odor is normal. For exceptionally high chloramine concentrations, a double dose may be used safely. To detoxify nitrite in an emergency, up to 5 times normal dose may be used. If temperature is > 30 °C (86 °F) and chlorine or ammonia levels are low, use a half dose. Seachem - Prime

 

I think the problem is in how I communicate the written word and how someone from another culture misinterprets what I have written.

If I write.
When all the chlorine molecules are attached to Prime molecules . Prime searches for another molecule to attach to . Prime binds with oxygen molecules that is how the overdose happens.Read the instructions for yourself.