The Puffer Forum

Huh?

Ohhh.

Durr.

I don't use water conditioners, I use dechlorinator. My absolute favorite is Yamato Green's NoChlor, but that has to be mail ordered. I love that one because it does nothing but dechlorinate, very simple and safe.

My second choice is the original Amquel if you can find it (I'm not so sure about Amquel Plus). It is a dechlor, but it also neutralizes ammonia and nitrites so if you do get a mini-cycle it can help take away some of the toxicity.

My third choice (and the easiest to find, so this is what I usually end up with) is Prime. Its basically the same as Amquel and works just as well, but has a strong sulfur smell that turns my stomach a bit. But it works great.

The API dechlor and Wardley's Chlor Out are both good products as well.

And of course, if you are on well water that doesn't have chlorine or chloromines added to it, you don't need anything Fish don't need their slime coat enhanced, etc, the less stuff in the water to irritate them, the better.

I never use any of the products like Stress Coat, Cycle, etc.. IME they do more harm than good, and are just a money making scheme by the big companies.

Never use a product that "removes ammonia" completely (unless it is a total emergency).. that will starve your biofilter, and then if you ever quit using it, your tank will crash. Those basically make you entirely dependant on buying that product for ever and ever, when if you just let the tank cycle naturally you wouldn't need it. Amquel and Prime say they remove ammonia, but they really don't, they just change it to a less toxic form that the bacteria can still use.

thx myaj im probally gonna get prime dechlorinator or amquel's

I have Prime and Amquel, and I like. I like very much! I have ammonia in the tap water, so I feel comfortable doing water changes, and I feel a lot better knowing that I have something on hand to help with a mini-cycle.

I wish I could use Yamato Green's, but our tap water is just too nasty for that.

so the puffer's water should have no nitrate and ammonia levels in it? So do i just use dechlorinator? If not can anyone recommend a good product that takes away ammonia and nitrate?

Ammonia and nitrites should always be 0. Nitrates can get to 20, but preferably 10.

thx

Have you read the fishless cycling article? That would help you understand those levels.

yeah i read it thx for suggesting