ammonia and water changes

[DaveinSF]

I know a lot has been mentioned about water changes, but...

I seem to remember here that some members fill the tank with the new, untreated tap water, THEN add their ammonia neutralizing water treatments.

Well, I always test my tap water (SF municipal, chloramine) after treatment and before adding it to the tank, and I always find an appreciable amount of chlorine content for up to several hours after treatment... obviously, not safe to add to the tank.

Boiling seems to speed the process. Typically, I've been using the Seachem powder neutral regulator, but it isn't very speedy and seems to require quite a bit more than directed. So I end up using a cocktail of Amquel and Seachem, and even then it doesn't seem to remove chlorine that quickly.

Can I assume that it takes these chemicals some time to break the chloramine down to ammonia, then to allow the ammonia to burn off? Anyone else have a chlorine/chloramine treatment that eliminates chloramine and chlorine instantly as advertised?

TIA

 

[tanker]

I too live in the SF Bay area. I ONLY use Prime to neutrize the chloramine. I add it to my make-up bucket and adjust the temp before adding to tank. I do not have a chlorine tester, but it takes about 10+ mins to break-down ammonia.

 

[Kasakato]

Most de chlors claim to kill on contact. Most of us use a Python and add the water directly to the tank, and then de chlor. None of us have had any problems.

 

[Tetras_Rule33]

I leave 3 big bottled containers left out every time i clean the tank so when it comes time to clean the tank, I put that water in which has been sitting out for a while and then use de chlor also.