anyone use "API Stress Coat"

[Rbishop]

Use Prime..period.

RO is needed when you have the ability to pre-mix your water for a tank to attain certain parameters ahead of time. Not be a guess or used as the sole source of water and ruin buffer capabilities. In most cases with FW fish the swing is the issue vice a specific level.

If using Prime, you don't really need a chlorine/chloramine test kit.

And, depending on your test kit, they measure different forms of ammonia and its forms, so you could indicate ammonia but not necessarily bad...and it could be dependent on your pH to boot.

 

[ffmurray]

the ERR 3500R20 water softener does have an integrated carbon filter in it. while this will remove chlorine and chloramines while new, It will not do this well forever. I would certainly use something like prime or stress coat. Prime reduces heavy metals that are found in tap water at typical concentrations. This is a good cheap insurance policy to keep things from damaging your fish. I live in a house with well water and I still dose prime with water changes. It has the added benefit of detoxifying ammonia (not that you should rely on that)

 

[JackLantern]

Use Prime..period.
... In most cases with FW fish the swing is the issue vice a specific level.
...

do you mean versus instead of vice?

 

[JackLantern]

i went around and around with eco water rep on how that carbon filter wouldn't wear out as my carbon filters in tanks did.

their claim is that the recharge process with the salt keeps it working. but my guess is what you said the carbon works for a while, then doesn't.. but the beads remove the chlorine

 

[JackLantern]

prime ordered, thanks

 

[ffmurray]

i went around and around with eco water rep on how that carbon filter wouldn't wear out as my carbon filters in tanks did.

As a plumber I cant tell you how many carbon or chemical adsorption filters "that never have to be replaced" Ive replaced because they stopped working all together. Im not quite sure what the rep thinks the salt will do to dig everything out of all the millions of nooks and crannies that will get filled up. The resin in the softener will exchange what it has in it for salt when the brine is at a high enough concentration, but as far as I'm aware this does not work at all for carbon.

Glad to hear you ordered some prime, its good stuff.

 

[Rbishop]

do you mean versus instead of vice?

nope....