Doing 25% water change to manage ammonia levels...do i condition the whole 10 gal or only 25%?

Question

I was reading that for normal changes you add back water conditioner for not only the amount you replaced but for the whole volume of the tank. I am assuming this advice is for changing water in an established tank. I am changing my water based on ammonia levels being too high. Have only had the tank up and running for about 4 days so I dont know if the water conditioner i added has worn off or not. Just wondering if i need to recondition the entire 10 gallons even though i am only putting in a fresh 2.5 gallons or is that advice for ppl doing less frequent water changes:) thanks

there is already a young ruykin goldfish living in the tank, so although i would prefer to avoid changing the water and thus disrupting the cycling process, i cannot just ignore the ammonia level since that could prove fatal for the fish:S

Answer 1

A water change is a water change if you are treating for ammonia, or waste in the tank, or just routine maintence. When you are saying conditioner, I am assuming that means dechlorinator? With Aqua Plus or most any other dechlorinators, you cannot overdose this stuff, but I'd say they are telling you to put in the amount of the whole tank to make you run out of thier product faster is all. Conditioner/dechlorinators are usually applied one capful for every 10 gallons, but if you happen to put in like 2 it's not going to hurt anything, you'll just run out of it faster is all.

If you want to get great service to all your aquarium answers, go to fishless cycling.com or just use the link on my profile.

JV

FOLLOW UP:

Kii, it's pretty simple in this case. You cannot let that water sit, cycling or not while the ammonia builds up. It's going to take a week to ten days before the ammonia portion of the cycle clears, it could take longer then that as well. You just do your water changes like you normally would, and if you change out water again the next day, say your ammonia went up after you did a change, you just pour your water treatment into the new comming water.

The people or bottle telling you treat for the whole tank are wrong. You do not have to do this, nor do you need to go buy that amquel $hit either. If you change out 25% of your tank volume, if you have a 10 gallon tank, then you changed out 2.5 gallon, and just put a capful of your conditioner in the 2.5 gallons and you are set to go..that's it. You don't have to treat 2.5 gallons of water for 10 gallons of capacity. The conditioner has no effect on your cycle or bacteria at all so it doesn't change anything other then dechlorinates the water...thats all there is to it. Treat the amount you are adding in only.

Answer 2

Only the 25%. All the other water was already conditioned when you added it to the tank :)

ADDITION: You are exactly right, don't ignore the water changes, in fact, this is the time you will need to do the most water changes in the tank during it's life. Monitor the ammonia and change water as needed to keep it to a safe level.

Oh and conditioner doesn't wear off or anything, once it does the job, it stays done for good.

MM

Answer 3

When I do water changes, I always dose according to the entire volume, not just for the amount I am replacing and recommend you do the same. This is because measuring a quarter capfull is a risky practice. You almost cannot overdose with dechlorinator. This is especially important in your case as even the smallest amounts of chlorine or chlorimine in the water will have a large impact on the bacteria you are trying to colonize in these early stages in the cycling process. Remember: The water treatment plants use chlorine and/or chlorimine for the specific purpose of killing bacteria.

Answer 4

I recoment treating the entire 10 gallons because of your ammonia levels.]

However, I would also rethink the water change alltogether.

When first starting a tank there is no bacteria in the water or gravel. Bacteria, which comes from fish waste, is neccessary to start an ecological balance between the fish and the water that will naturally regulate chemicals such as ammonia.

When starting a new tank I recommend buying one or two hardy fish (such as Mollies) and allowing them to live in the water for about 3 weeks before the first water change. This allows time for the bacteria to build up.

I also recommend adding Stress Coat and Stress Zyme, as well as your water conditioner, to make it easier for the fish to breathe.

Answer 5

Just treat the water you are adding. The water in the tank is already treated, and does not wear off. Once dechlorinated, always dechlorinated.