Have You Ever . . .

[Halo]

I add fresh tap water, temp balanced, with a python. While I'm at it, I drip de-chlor into the stream. I can't let go of the python, or it winds up on the carpet (that I've done, lord have I done that!) but it helps me always remember to drip my chems.. dechlor, plant food drip drip drip... I fight my own scatterbrained foolishness with ritual and habit. So far, so good!






dagnabit.. python on the floor!

 

[Roan Art]

Thanks, TetraBotia.

Since I originally posted this I learned that I have chloramine and not chlorine in my water. Not that it really matters in the long run

. . .I turned off CO2 forever, for good, after that... and I had been using it successfully for a while prior to that.

Real easy to screw up a tank (the fish, anyway) with CO2 if something goes out of whack.

Now this is what scares me. I don't intend to inject into a canister, I was actually thinking of using a diffuser instead. Do you think that this could have been avoided with an automatic system? Most are saying I just need bare bones, but what if you are not home and something goes wack?

I want to use CO2, but I really want what's safest for my fish.

Roan

 

[Roan Art]

Up until 6 months ago I never added dechlorinator. With all the time and money I spend on the tank, I figured "better safe then sorry"...so I started using it on big water changes. Besides the peace of mind that I get by doing it, I've never seen any effects by using it or not.

It'll also depend on your water change volume. Best way to find out if you need it is to test the source water. However, if it's city water, I wouldn't tank the chance at all.

Roan

 

[stingray4540]

I never have forgotten, but my dad did a water change and didn't realize he was out of dechlore until he was done, and the lfs was closed. whithin a half hour every last fish was belly up. He had those fish for a long time and had good water. I don't know how some of you guys get away with it, but I'm not going to take any chances after what I've seen. I answered yes for my dad.

 

[TetraBotia]

Now this is what scares me. I don't intend to inject into a canister, I was actually thinking of using a diffuser instead. Do you think that this could have been avoided with an automatic system? Most are saying I just need bare bones, but what if you are not home and something goes wack?

I want to use CO2, but I really want what's safest for my fish.

Roan

I had (still have) a bubble counter, needle valve, and the bubbles went directly into the water intake of the Magnum Cannister, because going through that system and impeller was the best way to diffuse. Little 2lb or 5lb tank (can't recall what the size is for sure).

The mistake was really mine. I turned the CO2 off for a few weeks, and then went back later and turned it back on. I thought everything was fine, until the fish were swimming sideways, upside down, etc... It was a Sunday, I was watching football, and my wife said "I think something is wrong with your fish... are they supposed to be doing that?"

When I got to the tank, I saw that I had bubbles streaming through the counter as if I were blowing on the line.

The mistake I had made was I forgot that I had two controls to set the flow. One on the tank, one on the needle valve. The needle valve was fine, but I had cranked open the tank, and had forgotten that part of my "regulation" was keeping the tank valve just slighty "cracked" open.

So- this was kind of a homemade system but one that is nearly as good as some that you can buy. However, I would not worry about it too much if you are anal about watching it and you get a good system.

The main reason I stopped doing it was the accident, but also, as I said, plant growth is pretty dang aswesome with a good substrate, the proper amount of lighting, an occasional micronutrient fertilizer, etc... But that is with the plants I have, and I do keep a highly stocked tank, so I do have "natural" CO2 injectors too! Another reason I stopped is I was afraid of an eventual crash, even though my buffer seems capable.

I think some plants might need improved CO2, while others simply don't. The tank I have now is narrow and deep (65 Hex), so I have limited planting space... so I choose "easier" plants. When and if I get the mondo tank I want to build into a wall, I will go shallower and have some even more intense lighting, and specialty plants, and then I may need to go with CO2 again.

But I doubt it will be necessary...

 

[Slappy*McFish]

My city tap water is treated with chloramines 11 months a year and heavy chlorine 1 month a year(April)...I always treat my water with Prime and have never forgotten to do so.

 

[fish_breeder_05]

Our water comes from the Ogalala Oquafer and has no clorine or any of that odd water cleaning chimical taste and thats how we like it .But I still add Clohr Out as a precation

 

[TetraBotia]

Our water comes from the Ogalala Oquafer and has no clorine or any of that odd water cleaning chimical taste and thats how we like it .But I still add Clohr Out as a precation

If it comes from a municipal supply (government run), then it is almost surely treated.

Even community wells sometimes add treatment during their processing.

You must be on a private well?

 

[branflake12]

for the smaller tanks i do, but for the Koi pond at home we just run a garden hose in there to make up for evaporationl. Only fish losses have been the cat and a raccoon that i know of.

 

[ghinksmon]

Any out of country (USA) posters here? I've heard that the USA is one of the last industrialized nations to use chlorine. Mostly because it's cheap and remains effective from the treatment plant to the tap. Other countries decontaminate with ozone at the plant, but that doesn't help prevent contamination down the line. That's what I've heard can anyone confirm or disprove?

I'm on well water so chlorine isn't an issue, but iron is usually high.