De Chlorinator

[Rorie]

Hi,

I have been told there has been a post on here somewhere about this, by Waterdrop i think? But i cannot find it

I am now cleaning my 360L aquarium with a pump, and then refilling into buckets, treating, then syphoning into my aquarium. BUT, i hear that i can miss a step, and simply take the water from my tap, and put it straight into my aquarium. Then treat the whole aquarium. Is this correct?

I there was a demonstration which showed that as soon as you put in dechlorinator, it worked straight away? I was wondering what the fish would think of this method? If i am doing a 50% water change, it takes a good 5-10 mins to fill the aquarium back up (to make sure i dont cause disturbance of the substrate). The fish will therefore be dealing with chlorine for 10mins. How much will this stress sensitive fish?

Thanks for the help

 

[Tolak]

Put the dechlorinator in the tank before adding water. The reason for dosing the entire tank volume is that there are dissolved organics in the tank that will oxidize the components of your dechlorinator, basically neutralizing them to some extent. It's nearly impossible to overdose a tank on dechlorinator, you would have to use a huge amount.

Dechlorinator does work instantly, think stirring chocolate mix into a glass of milk, on a larger level. Many people with larger tanks will do up to 25% water changes with no dechlorinator, and older topic on that can be found here.

In my setup most of my tanks are now drilled with overflows for water changes. I hose in tap water, at 4 gpm, time out the quantity replaced, once it is done draining I add dechlor shortly after.

 

[Rorie]

Now there is somebody who knows what they are talking about!

So, if i add enough to dose 360L, then add my new water, will it still treat the new water that has just entered the tank 10mins after dosing?

Thanks

 

[raptorrex]

Now there is somebody who knows what they are talking about!

So, if i add enough to dose 360L, then add my new water, will it still treat the new water that has just entered the tank 10mins after dosing?

Thanks

yes, thats about the size of it.

 

[Tolak]

Yes it will. The components are good for 24-48 hours after being added to the water. When shipping fish or bagging for an auction I use a dechlorinator that neutralizes ammonia, at about 3 times the normal dose. This prevents any ammonia produced during the time the fish are bagged from having any effect.

 

[BIG BAD BARRY]

Keep the filter switched off so that no tap water gets to your biofilter.

 

[Tolak]

If you'd check out the topic linked to you'll see that tap water does get to the bio filter, with no harmful result. I don't bother shutting off the large sponge filters that are running in most of my tanks for bio filtration, and dechlor after doing 50%+ water changes.

 

[raptorrex]

Keep the filter switched off so that no tap water gets to your biofilter.

I've never seen any evidence this is necessary. plus it will stop the flow of the tank, making the distribution of the de-chlorinator much more patchy.

 

[BIG BAD BARRY]

If you'd check out the topic linked to you'll see that tap water does get to the bio filter, with no harmful result. I don't bother shutting off the large sponge filters that are running in most of my tanks for bio filtration, and dechlor after doing 50%+ water changes.

Ah, good to know. Thanks.
If the components are good for 24-48hrs then there is no likely hood of patchy distribution i guess.
Also, i would switch it of so that the spray does not unecessarily agitate the fish.

 

[Rorie]

Thanks for all the help! You have all just made my water changes an awful lot quicker, simpler, less messy, and hence a happier experience for all

 

[raptorrex]

Thanks for all the help! You have all just made my water changes an awful lot quicker, simpler, less messy, and hence a happier experience for all

odd, in fishkeeping, how often the simplest way, is the best. we are sold a plethora of gear, the vast majority of, which is usless or unnecessary.