Water changes

[dan_acc]

This may be a dumb question, but I'm not sure what to do. When I do a water change I use my gravel vac (not too deep into the gravel) and then I put water back in with a pitcher. I also add water conditioner to remove the chlorine. Here's my question: Do I add the water conditioner to each pitcher before I put it in, or do I pour all the water in and then add the conditioner?

Thanks

 

[Where the river goes]

The way I do it is keep a 1 gallon container full of de-chlorinated water and pour it into a smaller pitcher to pour into the tank.

 

[smb]

I add the conditioner just before I fill it back up.

 

[dan_acc]

smb,

You add the conditioner to the tank before adding new water? I just want to make sure I understand you.

 

[lizard]

I always add the conditioner to the water before putting the water in the tank.

Pamela
aka Lizard

 

[smb]

smb,

You add the conditioner to the tank before adding new water?  I just want to make sure I understand you.

Yea, I add it to the tank before I add the water. I'm sorry, I should have explained it better in my previous post.
I guess in a perfect World it would be best to have a mixture handy for a few days to settle but I've never had any disease or fish dead from my way so I just go with what works for me.

 

[joshua]

heard that if water changes are not performed, nitrates and phosphates will build up... will having more plants eliminate the need to change water?

 

[platypus]

Joshua - yep if you don't do regular water changes those nasty chemicals will build up. This is because the fish will basically be swimming in their own waste . Not even the best filter can get rid of all of that!

Having live plants improves your water quality because any nitrates in your tank will be used up as fertiliser. Plus they will increase your oxygen levels. So if possible it's always good to have live plants for these reasons - although if you do get them you have to make sure you get rid of all the dead leaves etc as if these rot in the tank they will produce ammonia too which rather defeats the object of having them there in the first place!

Please people set the record straight if I've got all that about plants wrong...

dan_acc - it's not a dumb question at all! I often find the instructions on those treatments that get rid of chlorine/chloramine to be really confusing.

 

[Alien Anna]

heard that if water changes are not performed, nitrates and phosphates will build up... will having more plants eliminate the need to change water?

No because other chemicals build up too, including fish hormones.