water change question

tedr108

Lifetime Charter Member
Lifetime Member
Nov 21, 2007
514
0
16
Los Angeles, CA
When I do water changes, I send tap water directly into the tank with a Python setup. I have always only put enough Seachem Prime in to cover the new water only, not the entire tank. Is that what most of you do?

I can't remember where I read it (perhaps on the Prime bottle), but somewhere I read that you should treat with enough conditioner to treat the entire tank's water when a water change is done. Seems like a waste to me.

I have had no problems with fish health, even the way I do it now. Thanks in advance.
 

Carissa

Guru Class Expert
Jun 8, 2007
678
0
16
There was a debate on this a while back. Some conditioners say in their instructions that you should add enough for the whole tank. The only reason we could see for this was that it would take longer for the dechlorination process to take place if you only add enough for the water you add, and perhaps in that small amount of time the fish would be exposed. I usually only add enough for the water I add, I don't believe in dumping extra chemicals into the water on a regular basis if I don't have to, and my fish seem fine. My water also isn't very heavily chlorinated either.
 

tedr108

Lifetime Charter Member
Lifetime Member
Nov 21, 2007
514
0
16
Los Angeles, CA
Thanks, Carissa. Since I am seeing no ill effects (and I watched very closely a number of times), I'll stick with treating the new water only. Actually, I usually add an extra milliliter, just to be safe. I'm with you on not adding unneeded chemicals.
 

VaughnH

Lifetime Charter Member
Lifetime Member
Jan 24, 2005
3,011
97
48
87
Sacramento, CA
I was certain that the Prime bottle says to dose a full tanks worth of water each time, but the last time I squinted real hard to read the bottle I didn't see that. So, I'm not sure what the correct procedure is. I usually dose a tanks worth in any case.
 

Gerryd

Plant Guru Team
Lifetime Member
Sep 23, 2007
5,623
21
38
South Florida
With my super vision, I see this on the directions of my Prime (4 liter jug lol):

'If adding directly to aquarium, dose based on aquarium volume'.

They recommend adding it to the 'new water' rather than the tank, but either way is good per the direction label.
 

VaughnH

Lifetime Charter Member
Lifetime Member
Jan 24, 2005
3,011
97
48
87
Sacramento, CA
Gerryd;25036 said:
With my super vision, I see this on the directions of my Prime (4 liter jug lol):

'If adding directly to aquarium, dose based on aquarium volume'.

They recommend adding it to the 'new water' rather than the tank, but either way is good per the direction label.

A 4 liter jug should take you all the way to the 22nd century! You needed more supervision before ordering that:D