homeade dechlor

[WharfRat]

I dont know if I've seen info or heard about or dreamt it..but..does anyone know about making homemade dechlorinator?

[daveedka]

I really know very little except what I've read around here, but the active ingredient is sodium thisulfide (sp) and my understanding is that a lifetime supply of sodium thisulfide costs less than a bottle of stress coat. I couldn't tell you where to buy it or how much to use though.
Dave

[ChicoRaton]

I thought it was sodium thiosulphate. I might be wrong.. anyway, whatever it is, it's a photographic chemical. very cheap. the dechlor you buy at the store is a very very dilute sodium thiosulphate/ide solution, and you only use a few drops. you can get a large jar for only a few dollars. I'll look into it and report back with my findings.

[ChicoRaton]

here's what I found...
http://www.illianagardenpond.org/newsletternov01.htm

Sodium Thiosulfate crystals can be purchased from Aquatic Eco-systems. (1-877-347-4788)

5 LB. - $10.90

50 LB.- $52.00

How much do I need?

It will take 6 grams of Sodium Thiosulfate to react away each gram of chlorine. Or you would use 3 Tablespoons of Sodium Thiosulfate crystals for every 1000 gallons of water.



How do I mix the dechlorinator?

Place 15 Tablespoons into 2 liters (2000ml.) of water and use 400ml. per 1000 gallons. Place 1 cup into a 1/2 gallon of water and use 1 1/2 cups per 1000 gallons.



Things to remember.

Solutions of Sodium Thiosulfate are both light and air sensitive. So keep the solution out of the sunlight, and in a container with a tightly closed lid. Mix only what you will use in 30 days.



better mixing directions from http://www.koivet.com/html/articles/articles_details.php?article_id=75

You should obtain fish-safe aquacultural (not the penta-anhydrous form of photo hypo) Sodium Thiosulfate:
If you put 130 grams in a liter jug, then add water quantity sufficient to make 1 liter, your stock solution will contain 130 grams/Liter.
Each teaspoonful [5 cc] will contain 650mg active Sodium Thiosulfate. This is a 13% solution.
Simply add 2 drops of the stock solution per 1 gallon of the body of water to be treated . One liter of your solution can treat 10,000 gallons. Over-dosage is virtually impossible.


HTH

[daveedka]

ChicoRaton,
Thanks for the info, and correction.

[beviking]

Originally posted by ChicoRaton
here's what I found...

Solutions of Sodium Thiosulfate are both light and air sensitive. So keep the solution out of the sunlight, and in a container with a tightly closed lid. Mix only what you will use in 30 days.
HTH

Then why doesn't the store bought stuff have a "use within 30 days" notice on it? Maybe its the preservative and that's why they can charge so much?:confused:

Great info ChicoRaton!

[WharfRat]

Thanks for that info Chico..really appreciate it. I think I'll just do the store bought stuff
:cool:

[Mako]

Does this stuff work on Chloramine? My cities water is PERFECT for my native fish (since it comes from the same lake I collect from) but they add chloramine. My plants love it (free food from the ammonia) but I dunno if hypo breaks the chloramine bond.

[JSchmidt]

It does, but it requires twice the dose as for plain chlorine. (I use home-mixed sodium thiosulfate on my chloriminated water.) Also, the ammonia freed when the chlorine is neutralized (usually 1 ppm ammonia or less in my tap water) is not affected.

HTH,
Jim

[Mako]

Thanks J!

So long as I do a small water change, and early in the day, the plants make quick work of any ammonia. There is always a growth spurt.

[JeremyD]

I'd be careful when using straight sodium thiosulfate. It WILL reduce your pH. In fact, Wardly sells it, in crystalline form, precisely for that purpose.

HCl (hydrochloric acid) is a product of the reaction with Na2S2O3 and Cl2 (chlorine).

[ChicoRaton]

sodium thiosulfate shouldn't reduce ph to any significant extent if you have any buffer(kh) at all in your water. the amount of chlorine in your water and the amount of sodium thiosulfate you add are both so small that it won't make much of a difference at all.


Then why doesn't the store bought stuff have a "use within 30 days" notice on it?

I can't say, though it's usually sold in opaque bottles. I know form my photography experience that in a brown bottle with a tightly sealed lid, fixer (hypo (sodium thiosulfate) and other stuff) has a very long shelf life. about 6 months to a year depending on how full the bottle is. not sure about the differences in potency required for photography and for dechlorination though. I'd assume dechlorination requires even less potency than photography processes, I may be wrong though. The main cause of early death for photographic fixer is saturation with silver salts.

does anybody know what it decomposes to when exposed to light/air?

[anonapersona]

I use 1 oz of crystals in 1 quart of distilled water, dosage 1 drop per gallon. I keep it in a small opaque container and the big quart is under the sink.

I've got more than enough, Can sell you some if you wish.

I would not use it for chloramines, the freed ammonia is not good for fish.

[roliva]

chico,
I see why you became a senior member so quickly - great responses. Being 16, your liable to become a rocket scientist some day!!!

[JSchmidt]

I've kept mine for over a year with no apparent loss of efficacy.

I also have never noticed any affect on pH from the tiny amount needed to dechlorinate.

Jim

[ChicoRaton]

I see why you became a senior member so quickly - great responses. Being 16, your liable to become a rocket scientist some day!!!

haha, thank you. right now I'm kinda trying to figure out what I want to do with my life... rocket science might not be bad:p Oh and by the way, I'm a señor member, hehe;)

[roliva]

LOL. My apologies 'Señor' member!!

[bobalston]

For more info on sodium thiosulfate and other chlorine removers, take a look at my web site

http://members.cox.net/tulsaalstons/Aquarium.htm#ChlorineRemoval

Bob

[JSchmidt]

Great web site, Bob! I liked the links to dechlorinator articles/threads. It's been added to my bookmarks...

Jim