How do you peform your water changes?

[Rbishop]

My apologies to Newbie101 for aiding this post to be pulled off topic, it will not happen again.

Recommend you follow the general tank water changing methods that have been suggested, that suit your needs.

 

[jay733]

They also like to use the water conditioner, although they still insist it isnt necessary (although you may prefer it) if the water change is less than 20%.

Show me the link to the page and the line that makes you think this because in one of the *********** shows, I heard them specifically say that they have found that their fish do well with a little chlorine in their water. And I have also heard during one of theirs shows, a person call in, and they told that person to not add any water conditioner and they never pointed out that they might prefer it in there nonetheless. In the contrary they have said they do best this untreated way.

And rbishop, the guys that say this info are the bailey brothers, you can go to their show at www.***********.com, after listening to a couple of show you'll learn that they do not advertise anything or try to sell you their product, they just recommend products, just like people here recommend products.

About that page though, reread it, it's not that difficult to understand, for fish bowls don't put water straight from tap if you change 20 percent of the water, for aquariums or ponds, it's fine.

In the site they recommend a water conditioner, but that's only to use if you are replacing more than 20 percent of the water, which they dont' recommend because it stresses out the fish too much to change more than that amount of water at one time. And when you are setting up your new aquarium and newly filling it with water.

 

[Arkin]

Hopefully we haven't derailed the original post too much

Although I think this is an excellent part of the actual water changing thread; people new to aquariums shouldn't just throw tap water into their aquarium without thinking about it, and they shouldn't just grab a bottle of water conditioner and dump that in either.

jay, the links that I followed were the changing water, water conditioner, and cleaning the tank threads. In the water conditioner thread, http://****************/information/water_conditioner.htm#top2

A long time ago as beginning aquarists, we made large water changes and used a lot of water conditioner. Then we discovered that our fish did better with more frequent small water changes, and that the fish seemed to do better without the water conditioner. We thought maybe the small amount of un-neutralized chlorine or chloramine reduced the number of pathogens in the water without harming our fish.

But recently we have learned that fish will do better, when AmQuel Plus is regularly added to the water in all aquariums.

Further on down the page, they say where/when to use water conditioner.

Elsewhere we recommend changing 20% of the water in your aquariums and ponds twice each week. If you change 20% or less, you don't need to add water conditioner, but it's risky to change more than 20% even if you add conditioner. Only a worrywart needs to add conditioner when changing 20% or less of the water in your aquarium or pond. Click here for more information about Changing Water.

From that section, you get linked to here: http://****************/information/essentials_p2.htm#3 which says, under "how much"

If you have an Aquarium or Pond, twice a week remove 15% to 20% of the water and replace that water with fresh tap water from the faucet. You don't need to add Water Conditioner to the new water when you replace 20% or less.

Hope this helps!

Edit: sorry I forgot to add the part where they say they do use it:
http://****************/information/water_conditioner.htm#top2

Conclusions about Water Conditioners. We don't use much water conditioner, and we think it's probably over-used, but it's economical and convenient to use it to make safe water for fish bowls, and it's wise to have enough water conditioner on hand to deal with cloudy or foamy water or a disaster. We now recommending adding AmQuel Plus to every aquarium, fish, and pond each week to reduce nitrates.

 

[jay733]

So in which one of those lines Arkin are you getting the impression they like to add the water conditioner even though it's not necessary? Because I don't see it and like I said, those lines you posted just proves my point that they prefer not adding the water conditioner to water changes of 20 percent or less.

 

[Arkin]

Sorry, I should have bolded it Jay,

There's two parts:

But recently we have learned that fish will do better, when AmQuel Plus is regularly added to the water in all aquariums

we now recommending adding AmQuel Plus to every aquarium, fish, and pond each week to reduce nitrates.

Hope this helps!

Edit: Also, I don't think they're saying it isn't ever necessary, just overused.

 

[jay733]

OK I found it. They use Amquel Plus to reduce nitrates each week. Amquel plus can remove nitrates though, so it's not a typical water conditioner.

 

[blackwolfXKAV]

dont take the risk. i am really no person to talk but i believe there is a difference between a fish surviving and a fish thriving.
Perfect example: family has been keeping a tetra in a less-than-spacoius tank for about a year now with no aeration, filtration, heating or declohrination. Does this mean the fish is alive, yes. Does it mean the environment is stable, no. If you are going to spend the time and effort in keeping fish do it right.

a little bit of nerve gas wont kill you, it'll just shorten your lifespan.
fish dont have tremendous defenses because they rely soley on the water for everything. If you were to go swimming but got out because you saw some pollutant you could avoid it. Fish do not have that option. personally its late and i'm really getting tired of this . No offense or anything.

 

[jay733]

Well could you post your sources? Because I would like to see if they do not thrive when you don't add water conditioner of 20 percent water changes or less. Even the Bio safe bottle says to only use it for 50 percent water changes or more. From hearing *********** on the web, the bailey brothers say that their fish do better with a little chlorine in the water.

About the Amquel Plus that says to add it each week this is the actual paragraph:


about Water Conditioners. We don't use much water conditioner, and we think it's probably over-used, but it's economical and convenient to use it to make safe water for fish bowls, and it's wise to have enough water conditioner on hand to deal with cloudy or foamy water or a disaster. We now recommending adding AmQuel Plus to every aquarium, fish, and pond each week to reduce nitrates.

Sorry Arkin but the one you posted on number 33 makes it seem like they are saying they have found out that the untreated water is helpful but now realize it's not by the way you posted the end line of this paragraph on another. Which is not true. Because they are saying 20 percent twice a week and to add the Amquel once a week, so one of the water changes is not going to be treated, so some of the chlorine is going to be in there, which is problalby what they want to reduce pathogens like they say.

 

[blackwolfXKAV]

Chlorine is not a natural product. It is designed to KILL bacteria in the water system to sterilize the water. It would not only poison your fish but it would potentially kill of your beneficial bacteria population. If fishkeeping has taught me one thing, it is that you should never rely on a sole few sources. Especially people who try and recommend products. This is a form of marketing, like it or not. Please, lets just widen our minds and begin to compile our knowlege together...

 

[sumthin fishy]

My apologies to Newbie101 for aiding this post to be pulled off topic....

While it is not in relation to the question asked, it is a VERY important sub-topic that warrents discussion. Aslo, when something is posted in relation to the origional question(Water changes, in this case) that is poor advice, it needs to be dispelled.

I don't see how 20% changes are ok, but 21% changes magically become harmful. I would like to see more than just his personal opinon on wheather or not it is OK. We know chlorine is bad for fish and filters alike. In dosages as low as would be presence in a 20% change, I would assume the effects would be less than those of 50% changes. I do not see any logic in the idea that lower levels exposure will have no effect at all on our tanks. There are websites that say you should change your filter cartridge every 2weeks/month/what have you. That does not make it OK. Furthermore, I dont see the logic on why a bowl DOES need it, when concentrations would be equal to that of a larger tank. On the contrary, a tank with a filter is likely to see MORE harm from chlorine since it relies more on the bacteria to process amonia.(not that I condone not using dechlor in bowls)

To the OP please use a dechlorinator for your water changes. I believe it was already said "if your gunna do it, do it right." If by some chance some scientific data is provided confirming that dechlorinator is not needed, feel free to try it.