is ths water conditioner good?

[endlerguppy]

is Neptune Bob Martin 'tapwatersafe' any good?

[JayD976]

I think that majority of us would agree that Seachem Prime is your best bet

[emc7]

Most anything will dechlor, that is what you really need. But always read the fine print. Prime uses 0.5 ml to treat 5 gallons, some conditioners need 5 or even 10 mL to treat the same 5 gallons, so that they work out more expensive.

Read all the things it is supposed to do and see if you need them.

"removes chlorine and chloramine" - a must, otherwise why add anything?
"Detoxifies heavy metals" - good, likely EDTA may be foamy
"detoxifies nitrite and ammonia" - good, but may mess up some test kits
"increases slimecoat production" - this irritates fish.
"adds" or "adjust" alkalinity - messes with your pH
"balances" or "adds electrolytes" - contains salt
"jumpstarts/aids biological filtration" - You don't need in an established tank and may contain ammonia to feed the bacteria
"removes nitrate" or "never do water changes again" - a red flag, do not use in a tank with fish

[lohachata]

i have been keeping fish since 1973..i only use 1 water conditioner..i have tried many others but don't even bother anymore....
in my experience ; in general ; the only thing you need to do when setting up a tank or when you do major (40% or more) water changes is a dechlorinating agent....and maybe to also remore chloramines....so i save my money to buy other more important things like fish and foods and such..
i use "DECHLOR" made by "WECO"...........it is inexpensive..removes chlorine and chloramines..it also neutralizes many of the heavy metals in your water....it is 1 drop per gallon to remove chlorine and 2 drops per gallon to remove chloramines...

[emc7]

Most anything will dechlor, that is what you really need. But always read the fine print. Prime uses 0.5 ml to treat 5 gallons, some conditioners need 5 or even 10 mL to treat the same 5 gallons, so that they work out more expensive.

Read all the things it is supposed to do and see if you need them.

Look at all conditioners for this stuff:

"removes chlorine and chloramine" - a must, otherwise why add anything?
"Detoxifies heavy metals" - good, likely EDTA may be foamy
"detoxifies nitrite and ammonia" - good, but may mess up some test kits
"increases slimecoat production" - this irritates fish.
"adds" or "adjust" alkalinity - messes with your pH
"balances" or "adds electrolytes" - contains salt
"jumpstarts/aids biological filtration" - You don't need in an established tank and may contain ammonia to feed the bacteria
"removes nitrate" or "never do water changes again" - a red flag, do not use in a tank with fish


As to Tapwatersafe specifically:

- Instantly makes tap water safe for all fish - Neutralises chlorine, chloramines and heavy metals - Adds beneficial bacteria and aloe vera.

You shouldn't need bacteria or aloe (can make water surface slimey), but it likely won't hurt anything.

[endlerguppy]

i bought it cos wilkinson wasnt open and i usually but wilko own.

[emc7]

If you have it, use it. But when shopping, don't get taken by a store brand that is 1/2 the price but you use 5x as much.

[endlerguppy]

the wilko only uses 5ml for 8 gallons.

[lohachata]

you can also make your own...for about 5 or 6 bucks you can get a pound of sodium thiosulfate......1 pound will dechlorinate many thousands of gallons of tapwater....and i mean MANY THOUSANDS..........

[endlerguppy]

i never knew that!

[lohachata]

by the way...i did some experimenting with prime.....i wouldn't use it if they paid me...

[emc7]

I have read some really disparaging rants against Prime on the web, but I, personally, have had good luck with it except for one time when it I had gasping fish with a combo of big water change and Prime overdose and the way it bleaches my clothes when I drip.

I will continue to recommend something that "detoxifies nitrite" during "cycling" and any decent dechlor the rest of the time.

[endlerguppy]

hi again

[emc7]

sorry if we hijacked your thread. Use what you have, as directed.

[Maine_Fish]

Originally Posted by endlerguppy is Neptune Bob Martin 'tapwatersafe' any good?

Never heard of it.

I use Kordon's AmQuel Plus...seems to work well.