Oh B*gger - Have I Just Killed All My Bacteria?

[minxfishy]

Set up the purple tank yesterday, because no fish or any bacteria in there, didnt dechlor it, thought Id pop some in when I added mature media from my external before adding fish.

Well this morning took out a large sponge from my ext filter and added it straight to the filter in the new tank - not adding dechlor! Then proceeded to add the new guppies and my albino cory's I already had.

Suddenley remembered what Id done - will I have killed the bacteria off? Would the chlorine have 'gassed' off over night with the filter running? Just gone and doubled dosed on dechlor in some vain hope

I have visions of a fish in cycle coming on and that is something I seriously dont want to do.

Any thoughts?

 

[Miss Wiggle]

unlikely to have made a significant impact i think. the chlorine will have gassed off overnight, depends weather your water supply has chloramine in as well as chlorine or not.

chloramine doesn't gass off and needs to be removed with dechlor.

however a good mature bacteria coloy can probably handle it without any significant problems. just monitor levels over the next few days and water changes if you get a blip, i would expect a mini cycle at most

 

[Tag2008]

I read that if you let the water sit for 24 hours chlorine will dissapate on its own...so fingers crossed for you!!

One article I found says in brief

"Chlorine does not immediately kill fish in an aquarium. In fact, some breeders will add a little bit of tap water to the tank from time to time to help control algae. For drinking of tap water, I simply let a gallon of it sit out for 24 hours without a lid, which allows the chlorine to evaporate.

"

Taken from Here

 

[minxfishy]

Thanks for the reassurance MW - its a mature sponge, so hoping too much damage hasnt been done *fingers crossed*. You know when you just have one of those 'Oh *^%$ moments when panic sets in - well that was me

Shall keep a close eye over the next few days - any signs of trouble I shall be on it immediatley - could always put the cory's back where they were, not sure the guppies would fair too well with the bettas though

 

[england]

no it should be ok, as stated most chlorine would have evaporated, esp if tanks heated

ive cleaned out my bristlenose fry tank the other month and added water straight from tap, as stupid me forgot to fill up my bottles to sit, anyhow again stupid me forgot to add dechlorine, added water straight in and there all fine<not one death yet>

 

[minxfishy]

Just checked on the water board for my area and we have no chloramines!!! Yippeee.

Yep nelly the water was heated up to 80c so all looking good for not having killed my bacteria - I can breathe again

 

[fishlover500]

I always add straight tap water for my water changes. lol. I guess that's why i have like no algae and no algae eaters.

Should I let my water change water sit for 24 hours and a dechlor?

 

[england]

I always add straight tap water for my water changes. lol. I guess that's why i have like no algae and no algae eaters.

Should I let my water change water sit for 24 hours and a dechlor?

do you add dechlor?
I always change 250 litres twice a week in my large tank, just fill bucket add dechlor and add straight to tank, but as its my babie catfish tank iam trying to look after them as there new borns so wouldnt want to shock n kill them

 

[fishlover500]

I don't add dechlor

 

[england]

well in my oppinion i would start,,,,

 

[fishlover500]

okay is it labeled as "water conditioner" usually?

 

[minxfishy]

Sometimes yeah, as nelly says, you need to use some, depends on your water supply as well, whereabouts are you?

 

[fishlover500]

okay next time i'm at lfs i'll probably get some.

 

[raptorrex]

I don't add dechlor

many, in the UK, do not. and i am yet to hear of anyone having a problem. if you do not use it now, don't start. your tank is obviously not in need of it. i fully agree with those who use it for peace of mind. however unless you have a real problems with heavy metals, that really is the only benefit you will get.

 

[shelaghfishface]

sorry i didn`t read all the thread, but when i started fishkeeping i was for the first 5 months using "cycle" as a declorinator wasn`t untill the pretty clown fish on the front of the bottle caught my attention one day that i actually read the bottle...lol, i could have kicked my own ass!! was really annoyed that for months i had been spending money on the wrong stuff and also that i had taken the advice of a well known petstore and not checked it against anything...yes i now use aquasafe, but i only use it as im happy to take risks, but not when anything else will suffer -just sort of security
but dont worry minx, sure most of us have done the same thing
shelagh xxxx