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I've had my 20 gal. constantly running since Dec 28, 2004. I've had a female Betta in since the 29th and added to Bala Sharks (a larger gal. tank will be in order one day) on the 31st. So since it's been over a week I'm going to be doing my first 20% water change. So that 20% of 20 gal. is 4 gal. that I'm going to be replacing. What I'm wondering is, the instructions label on the tap water conditioner. I've added a pic of the label. Could someone help me to figure out what I have to add for a 4 gal. water change?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/JEG499/AP.jpg

one cap full should do it. Also i am sure everyone else is gonna say this but i will first....bala sharks are schooling fish that reach a foot long, recomendation is to bring the sharks back and get something smaller. Theres many choices for a 20 gallon but also keep in mind it needs to live comfortably in there.

EDIT: I guess i should have asked do you treat the water before or after its in the tank? If its before thats fine if its after its already in the tank mixed with your other water i would add about 4 capfuls (2 caps per 10 gallon is what i do). But its best to add beforehand in a large bucket. I use a 6 gallon poland spring bottle to hold the water for my changes...a little heavy but its faster then refilling a milk jug or something.

Last edited by Azrael_Darkness at 05-Jan-2005 15:34

yea, a cap ought to do it

Thanks for the quick replies! I always mix the tap water conditioner before it's poured into the aquarium.

And I have been thinking about returning the 2 Bala's. I know that they're small right now, but for a 20 gal. tank! that's going to be putting quite the load on all of the other tanks tennants.

Depending on the size of the fish when purchased, as well as looking ahead and taking into consideration what size they'll reach, how many fish could I safely manage? (what isn't to much strain on the aquariums biosystem?)

Tank's dimensions are 24"L X 16.5"H X 12"D. Filter is a Penguin 125 BIO-Wheel, Marineland 5-20 gal. dual temp heater, 1 18" natural daylight fluorescent lamp (15W)

Guess I'm going to have to look into what to get next in the way of fish. Any suggestions for a 20 gal.? Thanks.

its all preference as to what you get but if i had a 20 long setup i would get a breeding pair of kribs.

The directions say that 5 ml treats 10 gallons of water. If you are going to do a total water change of 4 gallons, then you should use 2 ml for the water change or 5 ml times 4 gallons divided by 10 gallons. If you want to use a capful (5 ml), change 10 gallons.

__________
"To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research."
researched from Steven Wright

Adding extra aqua plus is in no way dangerous to the fish, but if you really just want to add 2 use a measuring cup or something.

My Bala Sharks were only about 2 inches in length when I bought them in January of 2004. Its been one year and they are around 5-6 inches now. They grew the quickest during the first 6 months, and now their growth is slowed. Also, when I moved them from my 25g to my 90g, they went from like 3 inches to 6 inches almost overnight.
I would say you will need nothing shy of a 75g within the next 6 months. And preferably before that time.
About the largest fish I would say you could keep in a 20g is a Bolivian Ram, approx. 3 inches in length.
You could keep 2 Bolivian or German Rams for the bottom, 2-3 Ottos for algae clean up if you end up with algae, and a smallish school of some mid-top dwelling fish, perhaps White Cloud Mountain Minnows, or Danios, Some small tetras, Rasboras, or Pencilfish, or Marbled Hatchetfish. A school of 6-8 should do ya well.
Hope this helps.
Also, Aquaplus is such an expensive water conditioner in terms of how much you use. I would suggest Prime water conditioner. You would use 1cc of prime for your small water change, and a single 200ml bottle would probably last you 200 water changes and last you probably a year or more.


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Thanks all for your help

And I'll definately check out some of the other tap water conditioners, because Aqua Plus isn't the cheapest.

The directions say that 5 ml treats 10 gallons of water. If you are going to do a total water change of 4 gallons, then you should use 2 ml for the water change or 5 ml times 4 gallons divided by 10 gallons. If you want to use a capful (5 ml), change 10 gallons.

Sure bob, but what if his tap water has chloramines in it, like many community water supplies are showing up with

Ya gotta break the chlorine-ammonia bond first, then deal with the two seperately.

Chloramine was not mentioned in his post. I guess the right answer would be 2 to 5 ml. Do you always treat for something you might have but that you don't know that you have?

__________
"To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research."
researched from Steven Wright

I use aquarium pharmecuticals Tap Water Conditioner. 1 drop treats 1 gallon. Removes chlorine, breaks the chloramine bond, and something about heavy metals that I can't remember right now .
Fairly sure you can find AP in canada, and since I tend to not want to risk it I make sure my conditiones handle both chlorine and chloramine.

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he never mentioned chlorine either... come to think o fit... heck, he could be filling his tank from a puddle outside, we don't know...

My LFS in Brampton, ON. carries AP, good product but costly! Thanks for the input!

Last edited by bala shark at 08-Jan-2005 16:18

The first water conditioner i used was expensive and i went throuhg it like it was going out of fashion! Then i ordered another brand, "Waterlife, Haloex" thought i'd go for the big bottle as i was ordering off the net... turns out its a trade pack, paid something like £5-8 for 500ml... acording to the label Haloex works fast to neutralise chlorine, chloamine, fourine and other toxins, present in tap water... Haloex's special formula also contains alo vera...

Dosage, 5ml treats 50imperial Gallons (225 Litres) or 1ml treats 45 Litres... so when i do my 10L water changes i use... dunno get a pipette suck some up and squirt it into the bucket of water being added to the tank lol i'd take a guess at anywhere between 2-5 ml

I use pond strength Stress Coat, it's double the strength of regular stress coat, so my little 16oz bottle treats a few thousand gallons