Dechlorination

[Temeraire]

I've recently started cycling my tank using fish food, and in nearly a week I haven't noticed any change in ammonia, despite the evident decay of fish food at the bottom. Suddenly I thought maybe the water wasn't dechlorinated properly and that was why bacteria weren't producing ammonia.

I use Aqua plus tap conditioner. On the back it says to use 5ml per 10 gallons to remove chlorine, and 5ml per 5 gallons to remove chloramine. I used 5ml. However, if there is chloramine in my tap water, should I be dosing with 5ml, 10ml or 15ml?

If this is not the problem, how long does it normally take from adding fish food to having ammonia? I have a 10 gallon tank which has been cloudy a few days which I believe is due to a bacterial bloom.

Helpful replies will definitely be appreciated.

:help2:

 

[alleykat0498]

Drop the aqua plus and get yourself a bottle of prime. Its a few dollars more but goes alot further. You and your wallet will thank you.

 

[Temeraire]

I will consider making the change the next time I go to my lfs, I really only bought this kind because it said dechlorinator...

While I'm still on this bottle, however, what dosage should I be using? =X

 

[MLEgirl]

Prime FTW!

Stress coat in a close second?

Unless you have talked to your city water and know if they are using chlorine, chloramine, or both, it is safest to use the max amount.

I have been told it would be extremely hard to OD on water conditioner....don't know if that's true.

 

[alleykat0498]

Prime FTW!

Stress coat in a close second?

Unless you have talked to your city water and know if they are using chlorine, chloramine, or both, it is safest to use the max amount.

I have been told it would be extremely hard to OD on water conditioner....don't know if that's true.

:iagree:
Go to your county or city of residence and look for the water utility's page, they are required to post what all is in the water and keep it up to date...

 

[Temeraire]

Unfortunately I'm unable to determine if they use it or not, since it doesn't clearly say whether it is used or not on the web page.

 

[jpappy789]

Might as well dose it to be safe. The bottle should have dosing instructions.

 

[dog_gone07]

I'm also using prime and I find it to be great. The guy at my LFS, who has been super helpful, recommended it and I have yet to have any issues.

 

[Temeraire]

I added more to the tank, maybe in a few days I'll have a measurable amount of ammonia... XP

Waiting is even harder when it feels like you aren't even on the right track.

 

[colinsk]

If you have a white 5 gallon bucket fill it with untreated tap water. If it looks blue then you have chlorine. If it looks green you have chloramine. it is hard to tell the first time but after you have used the method in a few water supplies it is pretty easy.

If you call your water authority they will tell you. Your LFS should know as well. At work I have to call the water department a few times a year and they will tell me their latest test measurments, what water supply I am getting and what the chlorine dosing is. They would tell me much more but I don't understand as much about municipal water as they do. They like to go into great depth about the lates algea bloom in one of the local lakes and what they are doing to treat it.