ChlorAm-X

[emartin]

For those of you that use ChlorAm-X, when you add it to the tank do you need to dose it by how many gallons of water from the tap you are adding, or do you have to dose for the entire tank volume? With SeaChem Prime if you add water directly to the aquarium you need to dose for the entire tank, just wondering if it is the same with ChlorAm-X...

And with ChlorAm-X, can I add it at the same time I add buffers such as SeaChem Malawi Buffer, or does it need to be added when everything else is already dissolved?

~Ed

[fischfan13]

Never used ChlorAm-X, but when I use Prime I measure to the amount of water added...not the total volume of the tank.

[emartin]

I used to do that with Prime, but it says on the bottle if you add it directly to the aquarium to dose for the entire volume:
Directions
Use 1 capful (5 mL) for each 200 L (50 gallons*) of new water. This removes approximately 0.8 mg/L ammonia, 1.2 mg/L chloramine, or 3.3 mg/L chlorine. For smaller doses, please note each cap thread is approx. 1 mL. May be added to aquarium directly, but better if added to new water first. If adding directly to aquarium, base dose on aquarium volume. Sulfur odor is normal. For exceptionally high chloramine concentrations, a double dose may be used safely. To detoxify nitrite in an emergency, up to 5 times normal dose may be used. If temperature is > 30 °C (86 °F) and chlorine or ammonia levels are low, use a half dose.

[fischfan13]

I have been doing it my way for years.
Prime's way cost a lot more money.

Imagine this...
You have a 125g tank or larger.
You change 20% of the water twice weekly.
You take the directions on the Prime bottle literally.
How long is it before you are buying your next bottle.

ANY dechlor that I use I use HALF of the recommended amount.

[CJC]

Ed,
That just doesn't make sense. Come on, if you do a 50% water change on a 500Gal, your going to add the same amount as doing a 10% water change?, I don't think so.
As far as adding it with your buffers, etc, I don't know why not, I can't see how it would effect anything. Do whatever is easier for you.

[Obi]

I use Chlor-Am X and I've always dosed for the volume of water I replaced, not the full tank volume. I pre-mix the Chlor-Am X in a half gallon pitcher to dissolve it since the fish tend to eat it if you put it in straight, then just pour it in while the tank is filling.

I don't use any buffers, so I can't help you there.

[mack74]

I use it I as well. I just treat for as much water that I changed. I also add it right to the tank as well.

[nick a]

I've been using it for a coupla years now (and love it!).

Realistically.......you're using a fine crystally white powder.......those of you who ever stepped on the wild side----what was the exact weight/volume of that line on the mirror?.......

I can't even tell you exactly where I learned that a heaping spoonfull is good for 40 gallons--but that came from someone I trust so it's gospel to me now.......can't even tell you for sure if it's a table or a tea---I went and stole the correct plastic measuring spoon from my wife and have used it ever since.
Now tell me EXACTLY how much I'm gonna put in a 10 gallon tank after a 25% WC? ---a 1/4 of a spoonfull or a 1/4 of a 1/4 of a spoonfull?

The answer is YES. Somewhere around there. Don't overthink it, Ed. A little more than just for replacement water, maybe not quite enough for the whole tank volume--hell, maybe 1.5X the tank volume--it's not that critical. I just dump my little plastic spoon into the stream of refill water. Another dash--and a pinch--maybe BAM!, just a little more cause I like it spicey!

[emartin]

So even though I am adding both the dechlorinator and the tap water directly into the aquarium, you all feel I should just dose enough dechlorinator for the water I replaced and not the total volume, or maybe just a little more but not for the whole tank volume?

Anyway I'll give ChlorAmX a try soon, I just have to finish my 2L bottle of Prime first...

Thanks everyone for their input,
~Ed

[RD]

I've been using ChlorAm-X for close to 5 yrs, and just as I previously did with Prime I treat for the entire tank volume. Why? Because in my situation my tap water is treated with chloramine, not chlorine, and unless you are pre-mixing the water that you add, a certain amount of the dechlorinator can be lost to the organics in your tank. This is precisely why pre-mixing your water is always a good idea. It removes the possobility of your fish being exposed to any chlorine and/or ammonia. (even small residual amounts)

Also, during spring run off, after heavy rains, etc, most water treatment facilities will up the level of chlorine/chloramine to counter the higher bacteria count, so my logic has always been 'better safe than sorry', especially when performing very large water changes (such as I do) with chloramine treated tap water. I also pre-mix the conditioner, in a 1 gallon jug and pour it in while my tanks are refilling.

1 tsp treats 40 gallons



HTH

[fischfan13]

This is a bump for gmoses to read.

[gmoses]

i appreciate the read...

[emartin]

I finally got a reply from AquaScience Research Group and they said that if you know the exact amount or approximate amount of water you are replacing, you only have to dose for the amount you replaced.... So it looks like I will be switching to ChlorAm-X now :-).

Ed:

If you know how many gallons you’re adding then just dose the water based upon that volume. If you don’t know the replacement volume, exactly, then dose for the entire volume of water in the pond or tank.



==JFK==

John Farrell Kuhns

AquaScience Research Group, Inc.

1100 Gentry Street, North Kansas City, MO 64116
Hi,
I was wondering about the ChlorAmX dechlorinator product. If I do a water change with the water being directed placed into the aquarium through a hose from the sink, do I have to dose ChlorAmX to dechlorinate the water by how many gallons of water I am replacing or do I have to dose for the entire volume of the aquarium?

Thanks,
~Ed

[RD]

JFK is actually the inventor of ClorAmX (among other things), so if that's what he says then you can take that to the bank.


With chloramine treated tap water (where the strength can vary during the seasons) I prefer to err on the side of caution & will continue to treat for the entire tank volume.

[emartin]

JFK is actually the inventor of ClorAmX (among other things), so if that's what he says then you can take that to the bank.


With chloramine treated tap water (where the strength can vary during the seasons) I prefer to err on the side of caution & will continue to treat for the entire tank volume.
I only have Chlorine in the tap so I don't have to worry about that, but I agree I wouldn't take any chances... I still wouldn't dose for the whole volume though, just more than the amount of water I am replacing.

I could always email him again though if I ever move to an area with chloramines in the water...

What else did JFK invent besides ChlorAm-X for ASRG? Any of their meds? Or just that and Ultimate?

~Ed

[RD]

If I only had to deal with chlorine, I wouldn't waste my money on Prime or ChlorAmX ........ I'd use bulk sodium thiosulfate.
http://www.wchemical.com/SODIUM-THIOSULFATE-P51C9.aspx

A 40 lb pail would last even a hard core hobbyist the better part of a lifetime, seriously.


JFK also invented NovAqua and AmQuel.

[emartin]

If I only had to deal with chlorine, I wouldn't waste my money on Prime or ChlorAmX ........ I'd use bulk sodium thiosulfate.
http://www.wchemical.com/SODIUM-THIOSULFATE-P51C9.aspx

A 40 lb pail would last even a hard core hobbyist the better part of a lifetime, seriously.


JFK also invented NovAqua and AmQuel.
Holy ****! I didn't realize the main ingredient in Prime was available in bulk THAT cheap! I may get that if I ever set up a large fish room...

~Ed

[RD]

To quote a rep from Seachem .........

All of the water conditioner products on the market work chemically essentially the same way, they reduce chlorine to chloride and bind up ammonia. But, the chemical species used are all slightly different.

Keep in mind that sodium thiosulfate is only recommended for chlorine treated tap water, NOT chloramine, as there is no ammonia binding agent in sodium thiosulfate. Having said that, many of the water conditioners on the market are nothing more than watered down sodium thiosulfate.

[Cosm3]

I dose full-tank