dechlorinater question

[Lady G]

I was just wondering if I have been doing this right. I don't know why but now I'm wondering if I should be using less. When I do my water changes usually 30-50% and I add my dechlorinater stuff it is suppose to be 1tsp/10g so I always add 3tsp (I have a 30g tank), but now I am wondering if I should be adding only for the amount I take out and put back in like if I change 10g then am I suppose to add only 1tsp since I only changed 10g? I hope I have been doing this right if not what effects would it have on my fish, can this make my nitrites high? I haven't had a problem with my nitrites much but lately it has been reading at .25 even after my water change today?

Thank you,

Ginger

[na18oux]

I would only add enough dechlorinator for the the water you're putting in. However, I don't think it should have effected your nitrite. How long did you let your tank cycle for before adding fish, etc? Usually if its cylced the nitrite should be gone and you should have nitrate. What kind of test kit are you using?

Hope that helped

--Neil

[OrionGirl]

If you are dosing the new water in a tub or bucket, you want to add the amount appropriate for just the water you're treating (ie, you have 10 gallons, you treat all 10 gallons). If you are adding the water untreated to your tank and adding dechlorinator as the new water goes in, then you want to treat the entire volume of water in the tank, not just the new amount.

If you have nitrites, then it means the tank is losing it's bio-filter. There are a number of reasons this can happen--either something is killing the bacteria, like some sort of antibiotic, untreated chlorine/chloramine, or the bio-load increased, like a new fish was added, or something is rotting in the tank.

[Lady G]

I've had the tank for about 4 months, I was useing the strip tests at first and my trites and trates were always reading very high after coming here for help with this I found out they are very unreliable so I now use the liquid stuff and since then my trites had been reading 0 and trates had been reading 5-10 (tested my tap and it reads 0 trites and 5 trates). I have added a couple live plants but other than that I haven't changed anything in the tank or food or anything else? Of coarse now I will add less declorinater when I do water changes.

[Lady G]

Oh sorry your post wasn't there when I replied to the other post, I add the water to my tank then the dechlorinater stuff, so I have been doing it the way I should? Would you recomend I add it to the bucket before adding to the tank then? Maybe I shorted my dechlorinater stuff or something then, I'll have to test it again later, maybe I should do another water change?

[OrionGirl]

Doesn't matter, which ever you prefer. IIWM, I would dose the bucket--that way you use less, but still effectively treat the water.

[Lady G]

Yeah it makes more sense I think to dose the bucket, I think that is what I will do from now on, especially because I do 30-50% changes every 2-3 day's (due to needing a bigger tank), which I should of had by now but as luck has it life took over and had to spend the money on car parts and c**p!! So I have a few more weeks till I can get it, and believe me I CAN'T WAIT!! Oh hey I do have a question about when I do get it, I will have to cycle it first right, or do I just add my old tank stuff and water in there since it is cycled?

[OrionGirl]

If you transfer all the gravel, decorations, and especially the filter, you'll be fine. Still monitor, but I wouldn't expect any problems. Make sure to clean the gravel really well to avoid importing wastes. Don't bother importing the water--it doesn't contain much that will be beneficial. If you'll be leaving the smaller tank setup, you can certainly setup the new one, and cycle it fully--you'd be able to seed it well and reduce the time needed for the cycle to complete.

[Lady G]

Ok thanks so much, I will most likely use the old tank too, but that would be later, right now I am doing good enough to keep up with one tank, so yes for now I would be transfering everything from the old tank into the new one. You said to be sure and clean the old gravel before transfering it, do you mean to clean it while it is still in the old tank (vacuming) or do I take it out and wash it first? Because I thought if I take it and wash it all I'd lose my "good stuff", if all this kin of info is in another thread please let me know then I wont be asking so many questions that are already answered some place.

Thanks again,

Gin

[OrionGirl]

It depends on what all is in the gravel. I would use the gravel vac to make sure as much loose debris is removed as you can. The bacteria are firmly attached to the gravel, and this won't disturb them at all.

[Lady G]

OK sounds good, thanks sooooo much! Now I just can't wait to get my new tank, I sit and look at the one I have now and imagine what my new one will end up looking like and how happy my fish will be to have the extra room to swim around in! My husband thinks I'm insane because all the time I spend looking at different aquarium sites at the gravels and filters and plants ect... but it is just so darn addictive to me!! I just told him "hey there are ALOT worse things I could be addicted to"
Well thanks again for all your help, this site is the best!! I have went to a couple other fish forums and they do not compare to this one! :dance:


:bowing: THANK YOU!!

Gin