I'm about to order some lights from bigals, either the all-glass 2x55w strip or the Custom Sealife 1x96w. I thought maybe I should start using water-conditioner as well.
What conditioner do ya'll use?
What conditioner do ya'll use?
What kind of water-conditioner do you use for your plant tank?
- Thread starter superjohnny
- Start date
Maybe this should be moved to the newbie forumn.
I haven't been using water-conditioner (or any addative) to my water after it comes out of the tub and before it goes in the tank. Fish seem ok. I was thinking of using a dechlorinator cause I'm soon to add plants. Do you treat the water the same way with or without plants? Just a dechlorinator? Do most dechlorinators have that slime coat stuff that the fish like?
me = n00b
I haven't been using water-conditioner (or any addative) to my water after it comes out of the tub and before it goes in the tank. Fish seem ok. I was thinking of using a dechlorinator cause I'm soon to add plants. Do you treat the water the same way with or without plants? Just a dechlorinator? Do most dechlorinators have that slime coat stuff that the fish like?
me = n00b
You're probably thinking of Stress Coat which has aloe. But you can buy water conditioner without aloe as well. One thing you want to make sure of is that you buy a conditioner that removes Chloromines from tap water also. Some water systems use them as well as Chlorine and they are toxic. I treat my water the same with as without plants. Most dechlorinators say you use a drop per gallon of replacement water. So if you're replacing 5 gallons, use 5 drops. You can either put it into the new water and stir it up or as you're pouring it into the tank, gradually put the drops of conditioner in at the same time. There are many different brands at your LFS. I use Aquarium Phamaceuticals "Tap Water Conditioner".
Len
Len
hm...
How long have you been adding water to your tank without a dechlorinator? You may just have chlorine in your water, which evaporates after a little bit of time (usually around 24 hours with some arration from what I've heard). Phone your water company, ask them if they add chloramines to your water. If the person who has answered you cannot give you a definite answer, get him/her to hand the phone to someone who can. If you have chloramines in your water, a dechlorinator is needed... you want one that can break the chloramine bond, and eliminate ammonia. I use Seachem's Prime to dechlorinate my water.
Water treatment for a planted tank, and a non-planted tank is exactly the same. The only difference in water chemistry between the two tanks is, in planted tanks, you add fertillizer (there are exceptions), and in non-planted tanks, you don't.
HTH
-Richer
How long have you been adding water to your tank without a dechlorinator? You may just have chlorine in your water, which evaporates after a little bit of time (usually around 24 hours with some arration from what I've heard). Phone your water company, ask them if they add chloramines to your water. If the person who has answered you cannot give you a definite answer, get him/her to hand the phone to someone who can. If you have chloramines in your water, a dechlorinator is needed... you want one that can break the chloramine bond, and eliminate ammonia. I use Seachem's Prime to dechlorinate my water.
Water treatment for a planted tank, and a non-planted tank is exactly the same. The only difference in water chemistry between the two tanks is, in planted tanks, you add fertillizer (there are exceptions), and in non-planted tanks, you don't.
HTH
-Richer
I ran out of water conditioner like 6-7 months ago. I went back to the LFS (Petco 
) but all they had were these little 5oz bottles for like $4 so I didn't get it. Fish seem ok, nitrates, amonia & PH are all good. I'll call the water company. I'd also like to know the GH & KH of my water.
Thanks for the info guys
) but all they had were these little 5oz bottles for like $4 so I didn't get it. Fish seem ok, nitrates, amonia & PH are all good. I'll call the water company. I'd also like to know the GH & KH of my water.Thanks for the info guys
Unless you have extremely sensitive fish, is it really necessary to get rid of the released ammonia if you are breaking the chloramine bond? I just add AP Tap Water Conditioner (cause it's so cheap) and don't worry about the realeased ammo. I used to use Prime, like you do Richer, but I have been thinking that by adding a Ammo remover, I'd be starving my Bacteria. I have been using AP Conditioner for a few months now as well as trying Stress Coat for a few months before that. I have noticed no change in water quality with the three different choices I've used. It could just very well be that I have hardy fish, but I don't know if it's such a good idea to starve your bio filter like that. There's no telling how long it removes ammonia in your water. Could be for a few hours (or more)! What do you all think about this? I'm stumped as to which is better.
In established, stocked tanks, starving your bacteria is not very likely to happen...your bacteria population grows according to the current bioload of the tank....ammonia "removing" compounds don't actually remove ammonia... they do, however, convert the toxic form of ammonia(NH3) into a relatively harmless form of ammonium(NH4+)..which is then consumed by the bacteria, plants, and algae. Not only that, but the ammonium is more easily used by them as well. By using the ammonia neutralizing conditioners, you are protecting your fish and their delicate gill membranes...prolonged and repeated exposure to ammonia(NH3) will have a negative impact on your fishs' health in the long run. This is especially important in high pH tanks where NH3 is much more toxic. If your tank's pH is well under 7, then ammonia poisoning is less likely to happen, but why chance it?
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