I was reading a few posts and I saw that during water changes people siphoned the water from a tap directly into their tank without conditioning it. Isn't that harmful to the fish? I was always under the impression that you had to condition it before adding it to the tank (as well as matching ph, temp).
dechlorinating water
- Thread starter petes
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It really depends. For most water changes, the amount of toxins (chloramine and chlorine) are in a fairly small titer. So, as long as the water is treated quickly, it won't harm the fish. For a large water change, the fish may be exposed to a higher concentration, and it may cause a brief reaction, but probably not enough to injure the fish. Here, the chloramines are a bigger concern, because the chlorine is gassing off as the water is poured.
I always have a bucket of room temperature water (actually, it's a garbage can), so I never use water straight from the tap, nor do I match temps.
I always have a bucket of room temperature water (actually, it's a garbage can), so I never use water straight from the tap, nor do I match temps.
I always use the water right from the tap with my python, never had a problem. Like OrionGirl said its such a small amount for a small period of time to really cause any harm. Also if you use a python or such device right from the tap and are worried still you can let the water run in and add the dechlorinator while the tank is filling. Also trying to match the temp is a good idea in time you could get pretty close just by touch.
im sure the small amount of chlorine/chloromine wont have an adverse effect on the fish, but what about the beneficial bacteria in your filters?
Nope--same issue. The amount of bacteria that will be exposed to the chlorine/chloramine is so minute, in comparison to the total volume, that it won't crash the system. Granted, if you have chloramines, this is why you want to have a water conditioner that addresses the chloramine and the ammonia that results from breaking down the chloramine--no need to add the toxic ammonia if it can be avoided.
Also, keep in mind that these bacteria already reside in the water column of your tap water. Easily proven--without using any seed stock, a tank will fishlessly cycle, right? Try it in a glass jar, that can be kept covered, and it will still cycle (yes, I have done this). So the bacteria are fairly resistant to chlorine/chloramine treatment. The utilities don't try and keep all bacteria and parasites out, they just want to kill off or remove the ones that cause disease and sickness in humans.
Also, keep in mind that these bacteria already reside in the water column of your tap water. Easily proven--without using any seed stock, a tank will fishlessly cycle, right? Try it in a glass jar, that can be kept covered, and it will still cycle (yes, I have done this). So the bacteria are fairly resistant to chlorine/chloramine treatment. The utilities don't try and keep all bacteria and parasites out, they just want to kill off or remove the ones that cause disease and sickness in humans.
I run 2 10gl tanks side by side. When I do water changes I do about 20-30%. As for replacing the water I get a big carrying bucket and fill it up. I try to match the temps as close as I can due to the "touch" example then bring the bucket to the room where the tanks are. I put about 5 Drops of PRIME water conditioner and let it set for 20-30 seconds. Then I add the condtioned water to the tank by letting the water hit a clay ornament in my tank so the gravel is not diturbed. As for cleaning of the filter I always clean my filters in the "siphoned water" which is safe because no bacteria will be killed in process. Then I throw the filter back in, make sure everything is all tidy and put back on the hood 
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