How to dose water changes with a Python?

[Beckett]

Hello,

I just purchased a Python to do my water changes. So far I've done two water changes and when doing them, I dosed tap water conditioner according to the volume of water I was changing. However I have read some conflicting information online. When using a Python, should I dose the conditioner for the entire tank volume instead of whatever I'm changing? For example, I do a 50% water change which is 20 gallons on my tank.... do I dose water conditioner for the 20 gallons or the full 40 gallons the tank holds?

Thanks!

 

[Aspen35]

Hello,

I just purchased a Python to do my water changes. So far I've done two water changes and when doing them, I dosed tap water conditioner according to the volume of water I was changing. However I have read some conflicting information online. When using a Python, should I dose the conditioner for the entire tank volume instead of whatever I'm changing? For example, I do a 50% water change which is 20 gallons on my tank.... do I dose water conditioner for the 20 gallons or the full 40 gallons the tank holds?

Thanks!

Technically the remaining water in your tank is already dechlorinated, so there is no reason why you would want to add extra water conditioner, unless it is serving another purpose.

 

[Fishmanic]

If changing 50% of the water, I dose the tank about 2/3 of the dosage based on the entire tank volume. When adding the dechlorinator directly to the tank, drip it evenly across the surface of the water. Then when refilling using the python, move the python all around the surface and then lower it all around the tank water to distribute the dechlorinator evenly . Then after a minute or two, I will just lower the tube into the water, leave it there, and just sit close by as it fills and just watch when it is filled and be ready to turn it off.

 

[Byron]

The water with chlorine (do you also have chloramine being added?) needs treating, and the quality conditioners will deal with this within a matter of seconds. I have been using a Python connected to the tap to fill my tanks for 20+ years, and I always turn the valve to start the water return once the temp is what I want at the tap, and then I head into the fish room and add the amount of conditioner recommended for the volume of fresh water being added. I change 70-80% of the tank volume each week.

Caution especially with new aquarists is not a bad thing, but using for example double the amount of conditioner is not serving any benefit and only means you use the conditioner up faster and will buy more more often.

Not everyone will concur with the above. But there is absolutely no evidence of detriment in using this method, provided the adequate amount is added for chlorine or chloramine (the latter requires twice the amount for just chlorine, which is why I asked about chloramine). I use the API Tap Water Conditioner, and I believe there is no better product. It does what you need, and nothing more; it works at half the required amount of Prime for example, if only chlorine is present (as in my situation) Detoxifies chlorine and chloramine, and heavy metals. That is all most need. If you have ammonia, nitrite or nitrate in the tap water, that is a different matter.

 

[Beckett]

Thanks all! So it sounds like I had it right.... only add conditioner according to the amount of NEW water being added. I am using API Tap Water conditioner too.