What do you use to prepare your water for your fish?

Question

Are there any certain chemicals/salts you add to the water? What kind of fish do you have? Do you prefer to just let the water set out to dechlorinate it?

I have three established tanks, so I'm not looking for advice here. I'm just curious as to what YOU personally do to your water for your fish.

*sigh* Ok, you people that have no idea what I'm talking about - why are you wasting your time and my time?

On a side note, you can make an awesome marinade for fish using Jack, some fresh garlic, basil, thyme, pepper, and salt.

Do you adjust the temperature of your water to be within a few degrees of your tank water?

And to those of you who do your water changes every couple of weeks/months, what are your nitrate levels by the time you do your water change?

Answer 1

Hi Darlin! You know I am still in love with you yes?!?

Don't mind these knuckleheads out here - they couldn't find their butt's with both hands if a bell was attached to them! hehe

Water treatment - great question!

I have been recently using Seachem's "Prime" product. This thing is definitely the bomb of water conditioners (takes out both Chlorine and Chlorimane properties all together. Also will neutrilize Ammonia and Nitrites all together). I have gotten false readings off of it before, but that is because when it neutrilizes the Ammonia - it creates the lesser harmful version of it for the biofilter to simple filter out, and that process can take a couple of days (depending on your tank). I got a false/positive reading on Nitrites once because I checked my water parameters right after a water change, but found out after doing some research that this was why.

The other thing I have done is gotten an under the sink water purifier. The problem I have been having with it lately though is my flow rate (measured in waterflow per gallon) is too quick for the filter, and thus - some Chloramine has been getting through. Thus - Prime!

Prime is the best - here's a link for you!

http://www.petstore.com/ps_viewitem.aspx?idproduct=SC4435

Good luck! kiss kiss kiss kiss! hehehe

Answer 2

I use dechlorinator or stress coat. I also run the filter on a fully set up tank for two or three days to establish the system before adding fish. Add a tester fish in first to make sure he doesn't croak and make sure the water is okay. If he's fine a day or two I start adding fish no more than 4 at a time for the system to adjust. I don't test the water or anything with chemicals and have never had to use all the ph up/down and all those pharmaceuticals they sell in the pet store.

I've always used a bigger filter system than the tank needs and pump more bubbles through there than needed too and with an occasional gravel vacuum and partial water change - I've NEVER had a tank crash.

Have had only freshwater so far. My fiance is the salt expert. I've had cichlids and other tanks set up but gave fish away because I got tired of something for whatever reason. I now have an odd ball mix of fish simply because I can't decide what else to get that I havn't already done. Currently there are two Rainbow sharks, a pair of Rosy Barbs trying to mate and a Plecostomus. I'll have to separate the sharks soon, one is dominant and it's not looking good.

Have four other tanks but they are dry at the moment and in storage until we decide what to do with them. Fiance is thinking about getting back into breeding with those tanks.

Sorry no one else knew what you were talking about. I did.

Answer 3

I have 2 tanks.

A 55 gallon with ryukins, a lionhead and a butterfly telescope (5 goldfish). For their water I do a 10% change once and week and 25% once a month. I use Aqua Safe and salt. I have a Penguin filter....I never change the orignal size C cartridges (too expensive...I refuse to buy them) but since there is room behind them I just buy the Top Fin filter floss and put a zoelite carbon mix that I change once a month. The lighting for this tank is 2 powerglo blubs.

For my 29 that has an eastern newt, guppies (I'm really not a big guppy fan but they are pretty and were free), planted with real driftwood. I do a 25% water change once a month, change out the filter cartiridge (top fin). I add Aqua Safe and Seachem's Plant Supplement with iron. The lighting is a Fluroglo bulb.

Answer 4

I buy special water that is a balance of soft and hard fresh water for my tropical fish...
I have about 16 tropical fish in a 45 gallon tank and I bought 4 plastic buckets that are 5 gallons each of fresh water at my favorite fish store...
I do this cause there is too much chemicals in my water out of my faucet and it is also hard water...
My fish live in a heated 80 degree temp aquarium and we clean it every other month with the water we buy...
We only do half water changes though cause it is not good to remove all the water...
I have had good luck with some types of fish and bad luck with others...
I think it is more often the fish that die because of age, health or size and not because I am not keeping my tank clean with the filters and bubblers and pump...

Answer 5

I ll just add anti chroline to the water for my goldfish tank ,but for my pond i keep the water in a big tank where the water has gone throught the carbon filter... and test the water before i release it into my japanese koi pond , i change 10% of my koi pond water which is believe to be able to help on the growth of the koi in size...

Answer 6

keeping fish can be as easy or as difficult as you want to make it
I breed goldfish and koi and my husband keeps african cichlids
basically the only thing we do is dechlorinate the water, let the filter run for an hour or so then add fish (he uses african cichlid substrate in his tanks) we never check pH or amend the water in any way I use salt for medicinal purposes usually

Answer 7

I have a beta (a siamese fighting fish), so if your fish isn't a beta this might not be helpful to you. They are the easiest fish to care for, so all I have to do is fill the bowl with tap water and put in a teaspoon of this substance. You can get it at your pet store and it basically makes normal water safe for fish.

Answer 8

Throw out and get a 5 gal tank. A bowl is a torture gadget. nonetheless, in case you're somewhat stuborn, wash it out, upload rinsed gravel or any ornament, fill in basic terms at max 3/4 with faucet water ( bowls have low floor section for oxygen substitute) take care of with a dechlorinator, then flow seem for bio-spira, in basic terms that refrigrerated and for freshwater in basic terms product will artwork. After that, upload betta. in the adventure that your tank has a clear out, (which i doubt) get one, or do like each day water adjustments of around 50%. in the adventure that your water in basic terms has chlorine, ( examine your water furnish corporation) you are able to aerate it for twenty-four hours to get it out. yet as your betta is in a cup (god thats somewhat unhappy) you have not any determination yet to get pills. having mentioned that, as you have purchaced a bowl, even out of lack of information, you need to have no concern plonking the adverse critter into heavy chlorine. all people who says bettas stay in dirt puddles, attempt residing in a closet for 2 weeks. No bathing room, in basic terms a ton of nutrition. Oh and shove shampoo or somthing into your eyes and nostril. Thats represents the chlorine. Then sniff a bottle of cleansing ammonia. Thats the stuff that the betta waste is made up of. ultimately, enable in basic terms a small small quantity of sparkling air are available, that represents the lack of ability of oxygen. in case you're comforatable doing this, shop your betta in the bowl. in any different case, get a genuine tank.

Answer 9

I use stress coat, and put a little aquarium salt in the water. I soak the rocks to try to get the dust out of them first before I put them in the tank. I only have 20 gal. tanks, but I have about 5. The large South American Red Parrot Chiclid does not like anyone in there with her. She has a big cave, and likes it that way. She will do tricks for me. If I put my fingers folded back up against the tank and just leave it there, she knows to come over and give a big kick with her tail. It splashes all over the place, and I clap and holler hoooray for Charo. She eats frozen peas that have been thawed and outside removed, out of my hand. She gets mad if I don't go over and play with her. We also play touch and go. She is 3 yrs. old and as big as my hand, from tail to her nose. She can get mad and go into her cavern and turn her back on me, she is jealous of the dog.

What I am trying to say here, is that fish get bored. So, I try to let them visit each other, give them shrimp, or a orange slice treat, and that makes them happy. Also decorations will help, I put flowers in there, and just shiny pebbles.

There is one fish that is a pop eye gold fish, and has long fins. She has a boyfriend and they hung out together. He had a big red head and when his head got too large, he could not see or eat. She was so upset and put her long front fins around him to comfort him. He began to go upside down due to the weight of the head. so I took him to the pet store to have him put down. She grieved for about a year, and just now coming out of it. I put her with "Big Guy", who is a huge pop eye fish, just the two of them, and he cheered her back up. He is 4 yrs old.

They have personalities, and if you can relate to them, they will surprise you. To answer your question, I always put stuff in the water to take the chlorine out. I also have about 12 Tropical fish, and one baby Dalmation, who is doing very well. He finally got big enough to be in there with the bigger fish. They all are a lot of fun. I also have two panda's gold fish. They are a special breed, and used to have black on them, marked like a panda, but now they are all mainly white. They are popeye gold fish, but white. They have large fan tails, beautiful. All of mine have beautiful tails. I give them love, and talk to them. I think that is the secret. They are in a tank together. I never put too many in there at once, although once in a while I let them play or visit with each other. I think too many is too much stress.

Answer 10

I use Prime by Seachem. 8.5 ounce bottle treats 2500 gallons, lasts a long time. Good stuff.
Have 7 tanks, everything from puffer, community fish, SA cichlids.