water conditioner q's

[Cecca]

Hi all,
I've just started reading about water conditioners, and I'm a little confused. I'm using Jungle Bowl Buddies now, provided by the petstore when we got our first betta a week ago. Once those are used up, do I want something that eliminates chlorine, chloramines and ammonia only? Or do I also have to worry about heavy metals and putting in a slime coat protector? I use well water (please don't tell me to have it tested), but could easily switch to bottled if need be. So far I've done the first tank set up (2 gallon uncycled bowl) and today a 50% water change with no trouble. I do feel nervous about sticking Tarzan back in the bowl only half an hour after getting the water out of our faucet (and fizzing the conditioner tablet in it), but the pet store said that was fine. Any help out there for me?

p.s. I've done two test strips and all my levels (pH, nitrate, nitrite, alkalinity, hardness) are in the safe zone.

[abm]

Hi cecca,

I'm sorry you don't want to have your well water tested, so I won't tell you to.

But you REALLY should. There's no telling what minerals and other stuff leaches into your well.

Anyway.

About water conditioners: I have used Novaqua and Amquel + for a couple of years with no problems. The Novaqua eliminates chlorine, chloramines and provides slime coating, and the Amquel+ works on the ammonia, nitrates and nitrites. Ideally you want to make sure you're covering at least the chlorine and chloramines and ammonia - the slime coating aid in Novaqua is not the same as the aloe in some products - you want to stay away from aloe as it has nasty side effects.

I'm not familiar with Bowl Buddies personally but I've read that others here use it with no problem.

Prime is a very concentrated product that you might look into - it's very effective (say other forum members) and very cost-effective as well.

Think about it: Your fish's world is the water you provide for him. He's very sensitive to all parameters in it - pH, hardness, additives, etc. - and when you do a water change, you not only want all the factors in the "safe zone" but you also need for them to be as similar as possible to the water he's coming out of. So, for instance, if your current tank water pH is 7.0 and your tap water pH is 7.6, both might be in the safe zone but to your betta they're miles apart.

Your pet store is correct in that the Bowl Buddies will do their job in half an hour or less; but other water chemistry issues still exist and can cause problems.

I would allow the water to sit out for at least 24 hrs prior to adding the fish. Test the water both when you first pour it and then again after 24 hrs and see if therea re differences in the readings. Maybe you'll be lucky and there won't be - but if there are, please be patient and wait, so that your fish won't go into shock.

[Cecca]

Hey, thanks for the advice. I will definitely put the water out ahead of time this week and let it sit a day. And do the testing at dispersal and 24 hours later, as you suggest. You didn't mention the bottled water thing so I'm still wondering if that's bad to use? It's not that I don't love Tarzan, but a water test is about $100 in these parts and I just don't have the money to do that. Anyway, thanks alot for taking time to reply!

[abm]

I understand about the money, but if I were keeping fish and my choices were bottled water (an ongoing cost) or a water test (after which I might still have to use bottled water, depending on the results, but I MIGHT be able to rest easy knowing what I was putting in the fish tank every week) I think I'd save up for the test

Anyway, sorry I omitted the bottled water. Bottled water is a fine choice, spring water especially is great. Distilled water is a no-no b/c it has important minerals distilled out of it.

The goal is consistency, whether bottled or well or tap water is used. If you choose to switch to bottled water, make the switch a gradual one over several water changes from all well to 1/5 bottled to 2/5 bottled etc. Doesn't matter how great the water itself is, the switch is what endangers the betta.

Also, if you decide to go bottled, be aware that not all brands are equal,a lthough most are more consistent and reliable than tap water. Try a couple of brands and test the pH, kH, etc and use the one that's most consistent.