What's interesting is I did this yesterday. If I added just a fraction of API (say 5% max of a 5ml vial of water with no detectable nitrite), it went from sky blue (undetectable) to slightly darker blue (about 0.1 or 0.15ppm of nitrite) instantly, and then didn't go darker than that. And I even tried 50% API and 50% water. The same reaction. Only went a tad darker blue. Nothing like the purple readings (1.0ppm or more) when I've let the API dose sit in 15 litres of tap water for 48 hours.
API tap water conditioner and nitrite false positive?
- Thread starter AJ356
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I tried removing the whole thing and water just sprayed out sideways and made a mess. So I put enough back to 'straighten' the water. Some of the inserts in the UK restrict water flow to 4 litres or 1 US gallon per minute. It would take forever doing a water change at that rate.
Unrelated, I bet you haven't tried this at home.
I once spilt neat API conditioner onto a fresh paper cut. Actually stung like hell but only for a second. I was surprised. it really stung. I know that is NEAT conditioner, but still... wasn't expecting that from something I put in my tank. Obviously I'll always use something to neutralise chlorine/chloramine.
I once spilt neat API conditioner onto a fresh paper cut. Actually stung like hell but only for a second. I was surprised. it really stung. I know that is NEAT conditioner, but still... wasn't expecting that from something I put in my tank. Obviously I'll always use something to neutralise chlorine/chloramine.
Thank you, interesting
The aerator is the white plastic insert with the circumference filled with tiny holes. All the rest should put back to avoid spraying... I concur
I have just done a water change. I kept some of the new water with 2 drops API Tap Water Conditioner added to 8 litres water. When I finished I used the API liquid tester and tested nitrite in both tank water and new water and both showed the zero colour.
I'll test both again in 2 days.
I'll test both again in 2 days.
Could you do me a favour, no rush. Try mixing about 4ml tank water you know is nitrite undetectable and about 1ml API conditioner and test for nitrite. Tell me if the sky blue (no detectable nitrite) changes to slightly darker blue, but still well below the next level up (0.25ppm). Mine goes slightly darker blue almost instantly. Thanks
I'll try that tomorrow - the tank light is currently off, as is the room light, and I don't like to wake up the fish
I have done the test as requested.
I tested all tank water, water change yesterday and used 1 drop per 4 litres (which turns out to be a bit too much, see calculation below)
And I tested 4 ml tank water + 1 ml water conditioner.
The plain tank water was the sky blue of zero.
The tank water + water conditioner was slightly purple compared to the plain tank water but not nearly as purple as the 0.25 ppm colour.
I have 2 bottles of API Tap Water Conditioner.
I bought a 1 fl oz/30 ml bottle for dropper in the lid, and once it was used, I now buy 4 fl oz/118 ml bottles and decant it into the 30 ml bottle.
The dose rate on the 30 ml bottle is 1 drop per US gallon/3.8 litres and 1.25 ml for 20 US gallons/76 litres for chlorine. This is the same as 1 ml treats 16 US gallons/60 litres. So 1 ml contains 16 drops. And 3 times that for chloramine.
The dose rate on my current 118 ml bottle is 1 ml per 20 US gallons/76 litres for chlorine. This is a new bottle I bought a couple of months ago, but an older bottle says 1 ml per 15 US gallons/60 litres for chlorine which is what I used to work out how much 1 drop treats.**
Using the new dose rate, 1 drop of the new 118ml bottle treats 1.25 US gallons or 4.7 litres.
You said you use 0.7 ml to treat 15 litres. I measured 0.7 ml and it's 12 drops.
Depending on the dose rate of your bottle -
If it says 1 ml for 15 gallons/60 litres, you need 4 drops or 0.25 ml for 15 litres.
If the bottle says 1 ml for 76 litres, you need 3.3 drops or 0.2 ml for 15 litres.
That's if you have chlorine in your tap water. If you have chloramine, multiply by 3.
**
I've had to recalculate the amount to add to my bucket. I bought the current 118 ml bottle a couple of months ago and the dose rate has changed since I calculated how many drops to use. The current bottle says 1 ml per 76 litres, the last bottle said 1 ml per 60 litres. So instead of 1 drop per 3.8 litres I now need 1 drop per 4.7 litres. So do I put 4.7 litres per bucket or 9.4 litres per bucket? Can I even carry 9.4 litres? I can just about manage 7.6 litres. And would I risk spilling a 10 litre bucket containing 9.4 litres?
Post edited as I made a mess of the calculation - it should be right now
I tested all tank water, water change yesterday and used 1 drop per 4 litres (which turns out to be a bit too much, see calculation below)
And I tested 4 ml tank water + 1 ml water conditioner.
The plain tank water was the sky blue of zero.
The tank water + water conditioner was slightly purple compared to the plain tank water but not nearly as purple as the 0.25 ppm colour.
***********************************************************
I have 2 bottles of API Tap Water Conditioner.
I bought a 1 fl oz/30 ml bottle for dropper in the lid, and once it was used, I now buy 4 fl oz/118 ml bottles and decant it into the 30 ml bottle.
The dose rate on the 30 ml bottle is 1 drop per US gallon/3.8 litres and 1.25 ml for 20 US gallons/76 litres for chlorine. This is the same as 1 ml treats 16 US gallons/60 litres. So 1 ml contains 16 drops. And 3 times that for chloramine.
The dose rate on my current 118 ml bottle is 1 ml per 20 US gallons/76 litres for chlorine. This is a new bottle I bought a couple of months ago, but an older bottle says 1 ml per 15 US gallons/60 litres for chlorine which is what I used to work out how much 1 drop treats.**
Using the new dose rate, 1 drop of the new 118ml bottle treats 1.25 US gallons or 4.7 litres.
You said you use 0.7 ml to treat 15 litres. I measured 0.7 ml and it's 12 drops.
Depending on the dose rate of your bottle -
If it says 1 ml for 15 gallons/60 litres, you need 4 drops or 0.25 ml for 15 litres.
If the bottle says 1 ml for 76 litres, you need 3.3 drops or 0.2 ml for 15 litres.
That's if you have chlorine in your tap water. If you have chloramine, multiply by 3.
**
I've had to recalculate the amount to add to my bucket. I bought the current 118 ml bottle a couple of months ago and the dose rate has changed since I calculated how many drops to use. The current bottle says 1 ml per 76 litres, the last bottle said 1 ml per 60 litres. So instead of 1 drop per 3.8 litres I now need 1 drop per 4.7 litres. So do I put 4.7 litres per bucket or 9.4 litres per bucket? Can I even carry 9.4 litres? I can just about manage 7.6 litres. And would I risk spilling a 10 litre bucket containing 9.4 litres?
Post edited as I made a mess of the calculation - it should be right now
Last edited:
Thank you for doing that. This is the same readings I got as well. As for all the different ways of dosing it, I will read it again what you have written, as my brain is mush today
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