When to add water conditioner?

[Oli]

So maybe a bit of a silly question considering how long I’ve been keeping fish, but I have ordered a new water conditioner (API super strength) which is incredibly concentrated. I do my water changes with a 10 litre container. Normally I would empty 50 litres from the tank, and then treat each 10 litre container with a few ml of conditioner before adding to the tank. However this states that only 1ml will be needed to treat the whole 50 litres. This seems crazy because the bottle is 450ml so that would be 450 water changes… that’s should last years hahah.

My question is, if the above is true, and I really only need 1ml of conditioner, would I add it to the tank after taking out the water, and then top up straight from the tap, or would I top up straight from the tap and then add the 1ml conditioner to the tank after?

 

[Slaphppy7]

So maybe a bit of a silly question considering how long I’ve been keeping fish, but I have ordered a new water conditioner (API super strength) which is incredibly concentrated. I do my water changes with a 10 litre container. Normally I would empty 50 litres from the tank, and then treat each 10 litre container with a few ml of conditioner before adding to the tank. However this states that only 1ml will be needed to treat the whole 50 litres. This seems crazy because the bottle is 450ml so that would be 450 water changes… that’s should last years hahah.

My question is, if the above is true, and I really only need 1ml of conditioner, would I add it to the tank after taking out the water, and then top up straight from the tap, or would I top up straight from the tap and then add the 1ml conditioner to the tank after?

If you are using a hose to refill the tank, add the conditioner to the tank as you begin to fill with tap water

 

[Oli]

I am using 10litre containers to fill but it will be impossible to measure 0.2ml for each container?

 

[Byron]

You use a medicine dropper, available from pharmacy and similar stores. They have measurement lines for both metric and imperial measurements (or they should have). I used the API for over a decade, and one drop treats 1 gallon. A gallon is 3.8 liters, so a 10 liter bucket filled with tap water should have three drops (a tad over is OK here). The presence of chloramine requires a higher per gallon/liter dose, but in the UK I don't believe you have chloramine to worry about, just chlorine.

 

[Oli]

Ah okay, I can’t believe for so long I have been going through cheap quality water conditioner every week or two think it’ll be strange to see 1 drop treat a gallon but of course it’s very reputable!

Out of curiosity, if I were to use something like a python to fill directly from the tap, would you add this to the tank before or after refilling?

 

[Slaphppy7]

Ah okay, I can’t believe for so long I have been going through cheap quality water conditioner every week or two think it’ll be strange to see 1 drop treat a gallon but of course it’s very reputable!

Out of curiosity, if I were to use something like a python to fill directly from the tap, would you add this to the tank before or after refilling?

During the refill

 

[Essjay]

I use that water conditioner, yes you do only need to add a tiny amount. I also use a 10 litre bucket but I only fill it to 7.6 litres and add 2 drops before I run water in so the water rushing in at full speed helps mix the drops in thoroughly. If you fill yours to 10 litres, use 3 drops.


I also bought a 1 fl oz/30 ml bottle as this has a dropper built in to the lid. The larger bottles work out cheaper per ml, so I use a larger bottle to refill the small one so I can use the dropper lid.

 

[Byron]

With the Python on my larger tanks, I always started the refill and then walked from the utility room faucet into the fish room and squirted in the appropriate amount for the fresh water. With 1 ml of API treating 20 gallons, using the ml measurement on the dropper is mucheasier than adding 20 drops. So changing 40 gallons I added 2 ml of conditioner.

 

[Glenn407]

Aside from wasting it was it the downside if you add too much? I use the same stuff, have no chlorine in well water but heavy metals...maybe.

 

[Byron]

Aside from wasting it was it the downside if you add too much? I use the same stuff, have no chlorine in well water but heavy metals...maybe.

You will not get agreement on this, but the facts are the facts. Adding twice the amount of conditioner needed is not going to have any benefit. But it does mean twice the chemical getting inside fish. Fish drink water by assimilating water via osmosis through their cells. Substances dissolved in the water that are able to diffuse across the cell membranes will get into the fish's bloodstream and internal organs. So on basic principle, this is why no chemical or additive should be used unless absolutely necessary, and then only the amount required.

As you mention heavy metals...they are certainly able to diffuse across cell membranes. Fish that live and need hard water obtain their necessary calcium and magnesium solely by diffusion of the dissolved minerals. At the opposite end, soft water fish also assimilate these minerals but to their detriment, because toxic substances are filtered out by the kidneys. And in time, calcium will block the kidneys and the fish dies.

 

[Fishmanic]

Whereas you only need 1 ml of conditioner, you might add the conditioner to a cup of water. Stir it and then pour the cup over the entire surface of the water. Then fill your tank with new water as you move the fill hose all over the surface for several seconds and then lower the hose throughout the tank.

 

[CarissaT]

If you add dechlorinator to the tank, if I recall correctly, you are supposed to dose enough to do the whole tank. But personally I think I would not add that much if only chlorine, since any stray bit will ultimately evaporate. I have soft well water so I don’t have to worry about using anything now.

I suppose you could dilute some of it in distilled water on a 1:3 basis and then add quadruple the recommended amount if that makes it easier.

 

[Naughts]

Out of curiosity, if I were to use something like a python to fill directly from the tap, would you add this to the tank before or after refilling?

Always before, never after. I once forgot the conditioner and the fish zoomed around erratically. Realising my mistake I quickly added the conditioner and the zoomies stopped.

if I recall correctly, you are supposed to dose enough to do the whole tank

I don't, I use just the right amount for the new water and this is enough. As Byron said, add what is necessary but no more.

 

[Colin_T]

All new water should be free of chlorine/ chloramine before it is added to an aquarium contain livestock.

 

[Slaphppy7]

Water changes with buckets, treat the bucket amount...water changes with a hose, treat for the entire tank