measuring Amquel

[alicialav]

So my tank is an 8 gallon, and Amquel measuring instructions are "1 tsp per 10 gallons"-- I'm wondering what the heck I'm supposed to do for the partial water changes. Since I'm currently cycling the tank, I don't suppose I'd want to eliminate too much ammonia...?

My tank-maintenance container is 32 ounces, any suggestions from anybody on the right amount of Amquel to use? Or should I just look at another product for doing these minute water changes?? Once again- thanks!

[Slappy*McFish]

I would just dose it a half tsp for every 50% water change.

[blitzen25bm]

its not harmful to overdose so you can get measuring spoons or just get a little less than a whole capful.

[carpguy]

You can "eliminate" all of the ammonia.

Amquel converts the ammonia to a non-toxic form that is still available to the bacteria. They won't especially notice.

Your going to want a bigger container. A quart is a little on the small side of the coin. I'd want to change out about 2 gallons a week on an 8 gallon tank. If you got a gallon container you could dose an 1/8 teaspoon. For a quart its going to be a few drops.

[kveeti]

What carpguy said.

Or, get an eye dropper that has dividing lines. You can find them in the pharmacy isle at Wal-Mart, for example, in the baby care stuff. Here in Canada an eye dropper has 1 mL full mark and is further divided. I would guess, an eye dropper there would be ¼ tsp? Anyway, once you have your eyedropper measurement, let’s go on ¼ tsp, then you know an eye-dropper full would be for 2.5 gallons. Test several times to see how many drops you get out of your ¼ tsp and go with the highest number, each trial might only be out 1 drop. Then, knowing this you can further divide.

I use Prime, and all it says is “Use 1 capful (5 mL) for each 200 L (50 gallons) of new water.” Using this method, I know that 1 drop from my eye dropper will treat 2 litres.

[alicialav]

Now here we are getting back to one of my gripes lately, about America having its head in the sand (putting it rather nicely) concerning the metric system. It's a sore point with me, personally, having done quite badly in chemistry recently ((my scores for the course took a major hit with the metric conversions))

-- anyway, I can see this Amquel problem wouldn't be a problem at all if instructions (and common practices) were simply adapted to metric system. However, they aren't, because we aren't! And being that the sciences operate solely on metric, doesn't it seem a little.. backwards.. that our country continues to educate in teaspoons, inches, ounces, and whatnot. :sad :OT:

[slipknottin]

You can "eliminate" all of the ammonia.

Amquel converts the ammonia to a non-toxic form that is still available to the bacteria. They won't especially notice.


It converts NH3 to NH4. Its still technically ammonia, though we often refer to NH4 as ammonium. Hence why most ammonia test kits will not show lower readings after amquel (sodium hydroxymethanesulfonate) is added.

Ammonium is far less toxic to fish.

http://www.thekrib.com/Chemistry/ammonia-toxicity.html

[nvision]

i don't think exact amount is critical. i've used amquel for so long that i now just squeeze from the bottle to the amount i feel is enough, treating tanks from 10-90g.

[Matak]

I thought that Amquel is the 'snake oil' of the fish keeping set, in other words, it is unnessesary after the tank is cycled.

[TKOS]

It is supposed to break apart chloramines and then convert the remaining ammonia into ammonium, which as stated is less toxic. Prime does the same thing I guess. It is also meant for new tanks to help the fish go through a cycling process easier, and either Prime or Amquel is supposed to help detoxify nitrites as well.

I only have chlorines to deal with where I live so good old fashion off gasing works for me.

[alicialav]

thanks for all the useful info and tips. I am loving this forum!

[mcps95]

Use Prime. It handles both chlorine and chloramines, as well as ammonia and even nitrite (to some extent). But most importantly, it's highly-concentrated, so you use a lot less to treat water, thus making it much-less expensive then Amquel/Amquel Plus.

Matak, after your tank is cycled, you are basically using it to dechlorinate the water only, since the bacteria in the tank handle the ammonia and nitrite. It is still important if you have chlorine/chloramine in your water supply.

Mike

[Matak]

Thanks, Mike. I use a de-chlorintor/de-chloriminator now in a well cycled, lightly stocked, planted tank. Do you see any advantage to me in using Prime instead of the regular Aqua Plus?

[mcps95]

I'm not that familiar with Aqua Plus, but it might be worth comparing dosing amounts. A 500ml bottle of Prime costs $10 and treats 5000 gallons. I quickly looked up Aqua Plus, which is cheaper per bottle, but the important thing to look at is how much water that will treat. (I used to use Amquel Plus, which was also cheaper per bottle, but I'd go through it so quickly because you need to use larger doses of it to treat the same amount of water.)

I also noticed that Aqua Plus claims other benefits, like protecting the slime coat of fish, but I've found that most similar products like that are more snake oil than actual remedies.

Hope this is helpful!

Mike

[Matak]

Hope this is helpful!

MikeSure is. I just bought a new bottle of Aqua plus, but when it runs out I think I will switch.
Thanks Mike.

[slipknottin]

I'm not that familiar with Aqua Plus, but it might be worth comparing dosing amounts.

Or you could buy straight sodium thiosulfate, and not pay for the fancy name and marketing. :)

[Matak]

Or you could buy straight sodium thiosulfate, and not pay for the fancy name and marketing. :)Great Slip. Where can I get sodium thiosulfate?

[slipknottin]

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32409&highlight=making+dechlorinator

There are quite a few other threads as well, just do a search for homemade dechlor