water treatments

[sas]

Hi there, Being a relative newby, just wondering what everybody is using to treat their water during waterchanges. Any preferences out there? I've tried cycle, prime, and big als bio support? There's so many on the shelf. Would love some advice. Another question concerning dewormers such as PraziPro, is there any research concerning resistance build up to these products? We deworm our horses, cattle, goats etc. and it is a concern in those areas. Don't laugh like I say I'm a newby at this. Thanks

[PaleoFishGirl]

I use Prime.  One drop per gallon lasts a long time!

[darkdep]

I use Chloram-X powder.  Very potent stuff, and lasts forever.

[babblefish1960]

We use Prime as well as Chloram-X, you say you're out of town a wee bit though, we have chloromines in our water here, are you aware of what is in your water? Fixing chloramines is more difficult than chlorine, as chlorine can be evaporated, but chloramines are not that easy to get rid of. If you're on well water, you may even have issues we don't even think about. Water is a universal solvent after all, and could have any number of things in it, knowing what you're dealing with is always a worthy investigation. And never worry about laughter, asking questions and research are what makes the difference, good luck and welcome.

[BigDaddy]

I used to use Prime, now I use Chloram-X

[sas]

Great! Thanks for all the replies. Yep, well water and a dug well at that. Drilled well that's full of sulphur, gotta love country life. Thanks again.

[PaleoFishGirl]

You should test your water parameters, it might make an excellent cichlid tank   My parents' well water is so bad, my mom buys RO water for her tank from the store (expensive, sure, but she never does water changes LOL). 

If you're on a well, do you need to be treating your water? Do any of those products remove sulphur? I thought they only took out ammonia/chlorine/chloramine?

[darkdep]

They only deal with Ammonia/Chlorine/Chloramine, yes.

[bitterman]

I'm on a well and I never use any water treatment (for the last 2 years) since I moved out of the city.

Listen to PFG she is right, take you measurements and see. Also some dug wells have higher levels of bacteria, or even ammonia or nitrates present so testing is a must (I'm not trying to scare you). If your water tests bad you can just get an RO unit and it makes for great drinking water also.

When testing for Ph ensure you set out some water in a glass on the counter over night, then test for Ph, often once the water degasses your Ph will change. (you Ph might be very high mine is 9.1-9.2 out of the tab after it degasses)

Also chemicals use to neutralize Chlorine and Chloramine can build up in you fish tank and in time become toxic to your fish so many of these bottle product are NOT good if you are on well water.

Bruce

[sas]

OK........... Yep I have tested all parameters.... Didn't realize about letting water sit to degas before testing ph? So will have to do that over. Being a dug well we test regularly. Never thought about chemicals building up in the system but....if there's nothing for them to bind with, makes sense. Geez, knew those chemistry classes were going to come back to haunt me ???Anyway thanks.

[PaleoFishGirl]

Just out of curiosity, what *are* your water parameters?

[Julie]

Well water needs an airstone to degass...I am on a dug well.

Julie

[sas]

OK Here goes with the water parameters.. ph7.6 out of the tap and general hardness( don't fall off your chairs) 280mg/L ugh!. Just to clear the air the drilled well is used only to water the garden, and it doesn't even like it Cheers.

[Julie]

I'm still sitting,  my water is exactly the same southeast of ott.

[BigDaddy]

Well water needs an airstone to degass...I am on a dug well.

Julie

Yes and no.  An airstone will speed up the process of degassing.

[bitterman]

OK Here goes with the water parameters.. ph7.6 out of the tap and general hardness( don't fall off your chairs) 280mg/L ugh!. Just to clear the air the drilled well is used only to water the garden, and it doesn't even like it Cheers.

Sas,  Do you have a test for Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate? Also what about KH? See if your well water has any of these.

My well water ph is 9.1-9.2  but my Kh is not as high as yours (only around 240 and my Kh is 180-190).

7.6 is perfect for a cichlid tank, as well as your Gh. I'm not sure how the sulf would affect things though.

Bruce