How to properly refil tank - General Aquarium Plants Discussions

Emily6 · 06-22-2012, 08:12 AM

Hey folks- not sure where this thread really should go but since it's general I thought this was a good start:

So I've always wondered how effective dechlor chemicals are and how quickly they work, relative to how quickly the chlorine can kill the good bacteria.

For example, I have this lovely custom faucet attachment for my siphon hose. After cleaning the tank and removing 1/3 of the water, I dose the tank with Prime. Then I start refilling with chlorinated water.

Nothing terrible has ever happened but without shrimp or snails, I consistantly have diatoms and some green spot algae. No biggie. But these are typical "new tank" pests.

Related? The fish and shrimp (when I had them) always did fantastic. No signs of re-cycling the filter, certainly.

Anyway, curious what the group's thoughts are.

Silvering · 06-23-2012, 07:10 PM

You dose for the full tank volume, right?

I've most always done it that way, sink/hose/tank. I get different algae in different tanks even though I'm using the same water change method (and not sterilizing equipment, so all tanks are exposed to the same algae), so I don't think it's a result of chlorine. And I don't notice a difference in the algae during the weeks I fill from treated buckets instead of the hose!

Emily6 · 06-24-2012, 05:31 AM

Yeah- I dose for the full volume. It seems like there's no impact but I always thought it couldn't possibly work instantly. Guess I'll leave well enough alone.

_chicken_ · 06-24-2012, 06:39 AM

I've been refilling tanks that way for years, and have never seen any stress in fish, shrimp, or snails.

Silvering · 06-24-2012, 01:54 PM

It wouldn't work instantly, but since the chlorine is diluted by the old water, it wouldn't work instantly either - sterilization procedures usually require that bleach solutions far more powerful than those in our tap water be left to sit on surfaces for 5 or 10 minutes. I can believe the full dose of dechlorinator works faster on the chlorine than the extremely dilute chlorine works on the bacteria - especially since bacteria produce biofilms to protect themselves from environmental stressors like a bit of chlorine!