Are products that 'cycle' necessary?

[MarkLB]

Hi all.

I use a product when I set up new tanks and filters but is it necessary to use it when doing water changes?

[Faran]

Nope, just be sure and avoid water changes over 40% with chlorinated water and keep your filters turned off until the water is dechlorinated.

[Caper]

Nope, just be sure and avoid water changes over 40% with chlorinated water and keep your filters turned off until the water is dechlorinated

But I always thought you do NOT add chlorinated water to your tank at all, thought that was a big no no!

[MarkLB]

I'm in Christchurch & apparently we don't have chlorine in the water. Also, I use rain water when I can , which in ChCh is often :lol:

[Faran]

Hi Caper - you're in Canada where the amount of chlorine is MUCH higher than NZ and you have chloramine in the water, as well. The advice given above was intended for Kiwis and you should always test the chlorine ppm of your water to determine safety before adding tap water to your tank.

[Caper]

you're in Canada where the amount of chlorine is MUCH higher than NZ

Didn't know that! Sometimes I think, in trying to help us, they make things worse. I knew about the chloramine as well.

But, BlueandKim, I thought any amount of chlorine wasn't good for the fishies?

[sharn]

i use stress coat on all my tanks. i might not need to but i can smell the chlorine and if i can smell it theres too much to be safe for my fish in my mind. just use a general dechlorinator added during water changes

[Discusguru]

Totally agree with Sharn. I store more than 1000 ltrs of water overnight with strong airation and still use Prime. Call me mad but I just wouldn't risk it. Most of the discus and breeders are not replaceable.

Ron

[Keri Anne]

I use cycle if setting up a tank and I also add some if doing a large water change or if I've had to remove a sick or dead fish.

[alanmin4304]

All chlorinated water supplies contain chloramines as the chlorine combines with the amines to form monochloramine then dichloramine then trichloramine. All proteins contain amines and all water contains proteins, other than unusually pure water. In many countries the drinking water has been through six people before it gets to the tap. Are we grateful we live in Christchurch?

[Devon]

Aqua plus is pretty good. I just use water ager lol. I got told by an old friend that if ya only do a 20% water chagne then i shouldnt realy worry about it.I had been doing taht for a while with no deaths. But i got water ager anyway.

[whetu]

just be sure and avoid water changes over 40% with chlorinated water and keep your filters turned off until the water is dechlorinated.

I always use dechlorinator, even when just topping up my tank with a few litres of water.

By turning off the filter, you will protect the micro-organisms in the media from the chlorine. But you will not protect your fish. Chlorine can burn a fish's gills just like chlorine gas can burn our lungs.

Some water supplies have more chlorine than others, but the concentration can vary from day to day. If there has been an issue that may compromise the cleanliness of a water supply (think possum in the reservoir!) the water supply authority will dose with extra chlorine.

I'd rather be safe than sorry.

[alanmin4304]

I think the most common way chlorine spikes are caused is when repairs are made to the water supply system and chlorine is used to sanitise the systm. It is used in high concentrations and is difficult to completely flush from the reticulation. This can happen in a water supply which is not chlorinated.

[herefishiefishie]

All chlorinated water supplies contain chloramines

The Gold Coast must be special then, no chloramines in the water, just chlorine.

Brisbane has both but is just up the road. Different dam but.

I use water conditioners & airate the water. No chlorine is good really.

Frenchy

[Freakyfish]

All chlorinated water supplies contain chloramines as the chlorine combines with the amines to form monochloramine then dichloramine then trichloramine. All proteins contain amines and all water contains proteins,

Alan your quite wrong here

As chlorine and ammonia will react and form chloromines.

Here on the Gold coast we have chlorinated water yet not chloramines though chloramine is a type of organic amines

In chloramine water treatment, monochloramine (NH2Cl) is formed by adding chlorine and ammonia under controlled conditions.

thank you to

http://www.greenfacts.org/glossary/abc/chloramine.htm

[alanmin4304]

In some countries water supplies are treated with chloramines rather than chlorine. To my knowledge chloramines are not used in NZ, but when used it is produced as you suggest. When you treat water in a swimming pool or water supply with chlorine you add it until you get free available chlorine, because it is a more effective disinfectant than chloramines. The amount used before the chlorine becomes free and available is called the chlorine demand. This is cause by things combining with the chlorine including amines. Proteins are chains of phosphates with various amino acids (amines) strung off them and virtually all organic contamination of water contains proteins, so the chlorine becomes various chloramines until they are all used up and you are left with about 1ppm free available chlorine and the chloramines created. If you treat water with chlorine and it contains organic matter it will contain chloramines. There endeth the lesson for today. Psalm 127

[whetu]

<-- whetu looking totally impressed

[Caper]

Me too

No chlorine is good really

That's what I always thought :oops:

alanmin....are you a chemist or something along those lines? Gosh darn, I'm really beginning to think most of you are scientists over there :lol: 8)

[Keri Anne]

...are you a chemist or something along those lines? Gosh darn, I'm really beginning to think most of you are scientists over there :lol: 8)

LOL Just obsessive me thinks.... *Goes back to sifting through google results*

[alanmin4304]

In a previous life I inspected a couple of water supplies and a couple of swimming pools