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Water Conditioner?


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Poll: water conditioner?

Do you use water conditioner??

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#21 noaddedsalt

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Posted 03 March 2011 - 05:30 PM

well were on the subject can fish over dose on to much water conditoiner e.g you the lid falls of and you pour a whole bottle in your tank


#22 Mr_docfish

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Posted 03 March 2011 - 10:46 PM

It depends on the ingredients of the conditioner

most common conditioners are based on Sodium Thiosulphate and EDTA - safe if over dosed for fish and plants... but the sodium levels will be a bit high for the long term - best to water change it out when you can, but no great rush
some (Prime - and other smelly ones) contain sodium metabisulphite - ok in most cases, but the sulphur dioxide released might cause irritation in some fish and reduce the oxygen in the tank... particular in temps above 29C - strongly aerate the tank and water change ASAP if severely over dosed.
a few others (that claim to detoxify the ammonia that dont have the sulphur smell like Prime) contain sodium hydromethylsulphonate or (derivatives) - safe in high levels, but again, best to water change it out when you can, but no great rush

Edited by Mr_docfish, 04 March 2011 - 09:17 PM.


#23 sydad

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Posted 04 March 2011 - 12:40 AM

QUOTE (Mr_docfish @ Mar 3 2011, 10:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
It depends on the ingredients of the conditioner

most common conditioners are based on Sodium Thiosulphate and EDTA - safe if over dosed for fish and plants... but the sodium levels will be a bit high for the long term - best to water change it out when you can, but no great rush
some (Prime - and other smelly ones) contain sodium metabisulphite - ok in most cases, but the sodium dioxide released might cause irritation in some fish and reduce the oxygen in the tank... particular in temps above 29C - strongly aerate the tank and water change ASAP if severely over dosed.
a few others (that claim to detoxify the ammonia that dont have the sulphur smell like Prime) contain sodium hydromethylsulphonate or (derivatives) - safe in high levels, but again, best to water change it out when you can, but no great rush


Umm Ollie, I think you meant sulphur dioxide.

Syd.

#24 Mr_docfish

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Posted 04 March 2011 - 09:16 PM

Thanks Syd....... too much Bourbon..... I thinks...... *HIC*.....


correction made - edited post

Edited by Mr_docfish, 04 March 2011 - 09:16 PM.


#25 T1gger

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Posted 30 October 2013 - 12:55 PM

I have only had fish for 4 months. I always use tap water conditiiner. I have used salt but not recently and it is my first go to if fish are not right.

I refill with water from hot and cold tap to keep hand warm. But after reading the spawning comment next time I'll use cold.

I have 2 unsexed peppered corys 1 female bronze cory and 8 neons and am yet to find an egg from either and the bristlenoses laid after the last water change.

Although I am not a breeder I like to know my fish are fertile as hopefully that means happy and healthy.

My corys seem a little slower and peppereds a bit thinner than normal dispite veggie wafers daily at a rate of 1 per cory or bristlenose. Plus fish food pinch for other fish and zuchini for all to nibble on with a little egg yolk or bloodworm once a week for good measure. I pick up any one of the 3 brands of food so they do get good variation. Maybe I'll move the containers around in case I am picking one up more frequently than others.

Just tried the food underneath and a slimy piece of zuchini from my other tank, and sure enough more life in the corys and indeed all my fish.

Note to self if buying woolworths homebrand fish food flakes only feed every second day with a better quality food the other day.
 

#26 Michael the fish fanatic

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Posted 09 November 2013 - 08:22 AM

All my tanks I use water conditioner but in my 55l bucket with 2 goldfish in never used water conditioner and I've done that for the whole time I've had them and they are perfectly fine

#27 malawiman85

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Posted 09 November 2013 - 12:58 PM

I stopped using conditioner for africans ages ago with no problems.
I dont think my natives like the chlorine/metals though so i have started using conditioner for them.
My advice buy a conditioner for ponds... way cheaper and does the same job.

Edited by malawiman85, 09 November 2013 - 12:59 PM.


#28 JackMack

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Posted 09 November 2013 - 01:19 PM

I stopped using conditioner for africans ages ago with no problems.
I dont think my natives like the chlorine/metals though so i have started using conditioner for them.
My advice buy a conditioner for ponds... way cheaper and does the same job.

 

Exactly what I'd tell people when i was working at city farmers, and if that was too dear then I'd point them to the $4 a bottle stuff at coles.



#29 malawiman85

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Posted 09 November 2013 - 01:28 PM

There are a lot of pond products aquarists could look at instead of the way more expensive brand name aquarium versions.

#30 Bluey

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Posted 08 September 2015 - 04:48 PM

If you don't want to use 'conditioners', just age your water in open containers.

I find it works, especially in the summertime.

Having a couple of buckets full and ready to go works for me.

Having said that I do use Stress Coat when moving fish.



#31 bigjohnnofish

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Posted 09 September 2015 - 01:12 AM

My advice buy a conditioner for ponds... way cheaper and does the same job.

 

when you compare seachems prime and pond prime you will find they are exactly the same product... pond prime recommended doses are half of normal prime.. this is because ponds generally have a much larger surface area to water volume ratio.and a lot of ammonia does air off the surface so the dose of prime is less... so dont be fooled buying pond prime thinking it will go twice as far as normal prime...

 

wonder how many other pond water conditioners are the same :)

 

always use water conditioner on inside tanks... not worth losing breeding stock running the gauntlet of killing/damaging your fish with varying levels of incoming chemicals in your tap water.... 

 

on outside tanks and ponds dont use water conditioner... but vigorously spray the water into the pond to disperse some chlorine and ammonia into the air... and with bigger volumes of water 5-10% top ups are manageable without any issues...

 

but have done 50% water change on outside tank and had to use water conditioner... see the goldfish sliming up in reaction to the chlorine present.... 



#32 Westie

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Posted 09 September 2015 - 10:23 AM

I use fraction water conditioner --> http://www.aquariump...D=6556&catID=36

I can't be bothered to store water in buckets etc, but it's easy enough to do



#33 chocky

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Posted 09 September 2015 - 11:30 PM

I use fraction water conditioner --> http://www.aquariump...D=6556&catID=36
I can't be bothered to store water in buckets etc, but it's easy enough to do

Yupp I bought a massive bottle of the stuff from age of aquarium when they had a special. still going through it :) pretty much the same same as prime.

#34 bigjohnnofish

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Posted 10 September 2015 - 01:32 AM

just be careful not to contaminate the bottle with water from your tank... by using the lid to measure and then rinsing in tank water before putting lid back on... and also make sure you store it in a cool place... heat can effect water conditioner and make it under perform and subsequently you'll have issues....



#35 chocky

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Posted 10 September 2015 - 08:43 AM

just be careful not to contaminate the bottle with water from your tank... by using the lid to measure and then rinsing in tank water before putting lid back on... and also make sure you store it in a cool place... heat can effect water conditioner and make it under perform and subsequently you'll have issues....

Oh really. I've been doing that this whole time and no issues.
The sulfur eggy smell I read on other forums is normal I here.

I just fill a smaller bottle and keep the bigger one in a cupboard inside. :)

#36 mashjprime

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Posted 06 May 2017 - 08:03 PM

I use API stress coat with every water change. A question I have been wondering lately is how important is it to treat the water before adding it to the tank? Usually I would add the conditioner slowly as I fill the tank up but I'm considering setting up an IBC to pre-treat my water..



#37 dicky7

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Posted 06 May 2017 - 08:54 PM

Personally we use an IBC to age the water and it makes for painless water changes :)






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