Water Change Question

[CandyCoated100]

Basically my tanks are in desperate need of a water change but i cant because i have no dechlorinater... if your wondering NO i cant just go out and get some!! Is it really that bad to use un-treated water??? or am i/the fish screwed.

 

[Truck]

A 20% water change wont hurt without any dechlorinator.

 

[kevin82]

Basically my tanks are in desperate need of a water change but i cant because i have no dechlorinater... if your wondering NO i cant just go out and get some!! Is it really that bad to use un-treated water??? or am i/the fish screwed.

Personally I wouldn't dare, But I have had a friend who ran out of tap water treatment so boiled the kettle a few times until he had enough for a 25% water change

Obvois;y he waited for it to cool to room temp before doing the change

 

[plecostomus-mad]

my instincts would say no, BUT if the water is in need of changing that bad you have to decide whether or not the toxins in the water are more harmful than trace metals and chlorine etc. if the water tests shows extreme amounts i would be inclined to change 25% and hope for the best.

good luck with whatever you decide. some may flame you if you decide to go ahead but its your tank, your fish and you will do what you think is best

 

[onebto]

Answer to your first question is YES unfortunately. the second not entirely.

I have read you can leave water to stand to allow the nasty s to dissipate but I am unsure of the time you have to let the water stand to make it safe someone will post.

You have to realise that dechlorinater is an essential to this hobby as much as fish food and water. You really do need a ready supply of it.

Regards onebto

 

[Truck]

You have to realise that dechlorinater is an essential to this hobby as much as fish food and water. You really do need a ready supply of it.

Thats a bit of a sweeping statement IMO, The water supplier puts enough chlorine in the water to kill small bacterial colonies, our bacterial colonies are at least a million times bigger than this so not using dechlorinator on a small 20% water change isn't going to do much. With regards to the fish, the chlorine will have gassed off within a few hours, so it isn't long enough to harm the fish. I know of discus keepers that do 80% water changes with no dechlorinators, I haven't used dechlor for at least 6 months, and I do 50% per week.

There was a debate in the scientific section a few years ago, and we quickly came to the conclusion the dechlorinator is not essential.

Chloramine will have its bond to ammonia broken down by our bacteria and the ammonia will be processed leaving the chlorine to gas off incase anyone was wondering why I missed it out.

 

[erk628]

I went for a very long time not using and water conditoner and never had any problems. There are many people on this forum who don't us it and never has

 

[shrew]

if you leave the water in an open container for 24 hours the chlorine but it wont get rid of the chloroform. but i dont know how harmful to fish chloroform is some one on here will know.

 

[[email protected]]

i got to admit i would not dream of NOT using water conditioner. i always buy it off the internet in 5 litre drums. that way i always have plenty.

 

[Tolak]

That would be this topic. Basically there are bacteria that split the chloramine used in tap water into its components, chlorine & ammonia. The nitrifying bacteria use the ammonia, the chlorine gasses off. I would start doing this slowly, as these bacteria would need a bit of time to buil;d up, just like any other nitrifying bacteria.

To the OP; what size tank, what's the stock, and when is the last time you did change water? In a poorly maintained tank large water changes are not advisable, as the tap water is probably far different from the existing tank water. A series of small daily changes is better, as it slowly changes the tank water to the tap water parameters.

 

[Bebobb]

My tap water doesn't seem to NEED water treater, but I use it anyways, just to be safe. Many people don't have water like this, and to remove the chlorine that is in the water, you can let the water sit out for 24 hours, and that way, the chlorine is evaporated out. I'm not sure how you could remove the heavy metals that might be in your water.

My gut would say that it is fine, and me personally, wouldn't worry about it, like Truck said. But you aren't me, so I would just let the water sit out for 24 hours.

 

[CandyCoated100]

ummm i really dont know whether to chance it now.. i must admit years ago when i kept goldfish i never used any water treatments and them fish seemed fine Oh well i think im just gonna change a small amount and hope for the best. Surely tap water cant contain that much chlorine??? The tanks 33g the waters not that bad but i hate the yellow water (due to the wood), Slightly overstocked and normally the water gets changed once a week.. One more question in my 40g tank i have 1 Angelfish, 1 Plec and a RTBS the water temperature keeps going up to 81/27 is this ok or far to high???

 

[onebto]

You have to realise that dechlorinater is an essential to this hobby as much as fish food and water. You really do need a ready supply of it.

Thats a bit of a sweeping statement IMO, The water supplier puts enough chlorine in the water to kill small bacterial colonies, our bacterial colonies are at least a million times bigger than this so not using dechlorinator on a small 20% water change isn't going to do much. With regards to the fish, the chlorine will have gassed off within a few hours, so it isn't long enough to harm the fish. I know of discus keepers that do 80% water changes with no dechlorinators, I haven't used dechlor for at least 6 months, and I do 50% per week.

There was a debate in the scientific section a few years ago, and we quickly came to the conclusion the dechlorinator is not essential.

Chloramine will have its bond to ammonia broken down by our bacteria and the ammonia will be processed leaving the chlorine to gas off incase anyone was wondering why I missed it out.

As is your write.

I am no chemist!

I missed the post your talking about truck thanks for the link Tolak! I will give it a good read but I am not sure if I will understand it all chemistrey was never my strong science I was into Physics.

I am no know it all! Happy to admit when I am wrong or mistaken and this is a revelation to me! HONEST!
I read a lot of threads on this forum over the last year plus, always reading the Help me ones more from the point of view of the answers given (interesting and helpful information there) one absolute undeniable constant as much as any of Newtons laws is that the question "are you using dechlorinater? with your water?" is asked of all people in trouble posting questions.

So you can forgive me for coming to the conclusion it is an essential to the hobby!

In conclusion:

CandyCoated100 Apologies I dropped the proverbial clanger on this one my apologies. That's one of the great thing's about this forum there are so many levels of knowledge here on TFF and if one person does not get it Wright there is always someone that can correct.

Although it is okay to not use dechlorinater I think for the time being I will keep on using the stock I have but will seriousley consider not purchasing any more as it is bloody expensive especially as I am a water change nutter

Thanks for correcting me truck

Regards onebto.

 

[Liam50]

where i work, we don't add dechlor to the tanks unless the water change is larger than 25%. and no casualties.

 

[Shelby]

I do small water changes and never use a conditioner. Occasionally the city will rechlorinate the water. If I run my water and can smell the chlorine I don't do a water change. If I run my water and don't smell it I use it. Alot of people that are serious hobbyists do because they've invested a lot of time and money in their tanks and do not wish to risk a loss.