Sodium Thiosulfate

[small_ranchu]

Hi,
Does anybody use Sodium Thiosulfate (aka Hypo) for dechlorinating tap water? According to NYC water report, we do not get Chloramine in our tap water. Is it a good alternate for Prime? Thanks.

[bekko]

ST is all you need. It's really inexpensive too - about $2 per pound in quantity. Makes a good group purchase item for a local club.

-steve

[32Bit_Fish]

I think the cheapest way to do w/c is to have the water sit in a container for at least 24 hours while add an air stone in it.

Then there is no need to add anything in the water. The water is good to go after 24 hrs.

The only problem I can see is for ppl who does massive w/c on their big tank. The water storage container has to be big enough to accomendate the big w/c.

[demdamdemekins]

Yeah... Though many of my fish would love to have aged water changes, not to mention how aging water allows one to keep a wider variety of fish, it's not really a practical solution for most NYC apartments. I for one, definitely don't have space to do it.

[flaringshutter]

Aging water is fine if you don't get chloramine, but here in California that's not an option. Chloramine takes weeks and weeks to age out. The water company also bumps up the chlorine/chloramine content after a big rain out here, so that adds yet another problem.

[Fishdork]

I use Sodium Thiosulphate at 1/4 teaspoon per 100 gallons. My water doesn't have much chlorine and has low carbonate hardness. I don't know the dosage for other water types. Fish are said to tolerate 10X overdose without a problem. If fish are stressed from shipping or newly hatched I usually use something more expensive like Stress Coat.
S. Thiosulphate neutralizes Potassium Permanganate, so when I'm treating with PP and the water gets too brown to see, I do a water change but the ST in the new water turns the PP brown immediately when I start treating again. One more vote for aged water in some situations.

[johnatoranchu]

I didn't think anyone used "aged water" any more. Dechorinators allow water to be used straight from the tap and enable huge water changes to be handled/managed effectively.
John

[Ajno]

I've used Prime for the last few years. I am looking for a new alternative since its now 75.99 for a gallon now. My last gallon was54.99. Talk about sticker shock.

[Ichthius]

I use thio and keep it in a squeeze bottle for easy dosing.

I make a saturated solution and IIRC 20 mls treats 1,000 gallons.

Here are a couple calculators to help you crunch your own numbers:
http://www.cnykoi.com/calculators/calcstdose.asp
http://www.cnykoi.com/calculators/calcdechlor.asp

Norm- use hydrogen peroxide to neutralize you PP, it works faster, boosts the O2 and is eaten up by the system fairly quickly.

Thio is great for dechlor but IMO the best thing to have on hand, hands down is Chloram-X which is the old Amquel (the patent ran out and Hikari is now distributing it). From reed mariculture you can get 5 pounds for $38 including shipping, http://www.reed-mariculture.com/cloram-x. It treats ammonia, chlorine, chloramine. It's cheap enough to use for regular water changes and if you water quality goes south on you, you have the best ammonia binder on hand.

<}}}><

[cowiche ponder]

I have heard of some with ponds and low chloramines using ST. The ammonia it releases was quickly taken care of by the filtration. Not sure I'd want to go that route unless the actual levels of chloramines were known, but it apparently can work. YMMV

I have well water :D

[Ichthius]

That's why cloramX is so great, it treats both the chlorine and ammonia in chloramines.

<}}}><

[Ajno]

Thanks for the link I'll definitely look into it.

[ak47_chicago]

How about this??


Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Tap Water Conditioner - 1 Gallon
Our Price: $26.99 from Bigalsonline.com

[small_ranchu]

:confuse1: I have seen a lot of people suggest Prime. I am just looking for cost effective method for daily water changer.

[Bucks Koi]

You can buy a 5 gal. bucket of Sodium Thiosulfate from aquatic eco in florida
and mix your own declor for a long time.
Patrick

[Bucks Koi]

Hi,
Does anybody use Sodium Thiosulfate (aka Hypo) for dechlorinating tap water? According to NYC water report, we do not get Chloramine in our tap water. Is it a good alternate for Prime? Thanks.

Fred
Do not Believe those reports.
Always be on the safe side of water quality.
Patrick

[small_ranchu]

Hey Pat,
Glad to see you here man. You are right, what if they forget to update the web page. so What is the good solution for safe water quality?

[Bucks Koi]

Fred

Water Changes And Testing Always.

Nice to hear from you also.And I'm glad to see that you hooked up with paul again,I also purchased 3 Ranchu's from him also.
Patrick

[mikroll]

Hi,
Does anybody use Sodium Thiosulfate (aka Hypo) for dechlorinating tap water? According to NYC water report, we do not get Chloramine in our tap water. Is it a good alternate for Prime? Thanks.

greetings small ranchu .
I see that many use chemical system to change water parameters. As you ask i reply .. I use active carbon prefilter at moment of water input during change . this has worked as a cheap sure system to eliminate the bad chlorine gas. My filter is an in line 300 gram type which I refill quarterly( but can service thousands of liters ).

[small_ranchu]

greetings small ranchu .
I see that many use chemical system to change water parameters. As you ask i reply .. I use active carbon prefilter at moment of water input during change . this has worked as a cheap sure system to eliminate the bad chlorine gas. My filter is an in line 300 gram type which I refill quarterly( but can service thousands of liters ).

Hi Michael,
Thanks for your reply. Is there any pic of your setup? I might use it after I move (in near future).

[mikroll]

Hi Michael,
Thanks for your reply. Is there any pic of your setup? I might use it after I move (in near future).

yes at photo bucket there is details picture of the simple hoses and valves used to provide temperature adjust and also for reverse to drain tanks into toliet.

[mikroll]

here is link to picturs of active carbon filter and valves and hoses connections for DIY water change input and reverse to drain siphon into toliet in spare service room. with out this life of water changing was very difficult..buckets and wife screaming about spills.
in picture you will see pipe from mains supply mixed for hot and cold,
blue and black is filter body with active carbon particles cartridge inside ( which I refill every few months) . black handle walve to clear hose for drain into toliet. red valves for shut off and connected to green hose which goes to tanks as suppy input / out put.
http://s29.photobucket.com/albums/c288/mikroll/aquarium%20details/?action=view&current=waterfilter.jpg
upper view of hot and cold valves for mix to obtain correct temperature.
http://s29.photobucket.com/albums/c288/mikroll/aquarium%20details/?action=view&current=waterfilterpipe.jpg

[small_ranchu]

How many tank do you have? I guess they are all drilled and connected to central system.

[gusgail]

Hi Michael,

I saw your pictures on photobucket.
I saw the calico with? pics and i have the same thing ...
did you find out what it is? what did you do?


greetings small ranchu .
I see that many use chemical system to change water parameters. As you ask i reply .. I use active carbon prefilter at moment of water input during change . this has worked as a cheap sure system to eliminate the bad chlorine gas. My filter is an in line 300 gram type which I refill quarterly( but can service thousands of liters ).

[RanchuLord]

NYC and Long Island do not use chloramines. If letting the water age suits you thats great. But when your changing 200 - 400 gallons of water at a time you're not going to pump it back and fourth when you can just refill the tanks and add Sodium Thiosulfate place the fish back and kick on the filters.

[WakinAZ]

...IMO the best thing to have on hand, hands down is Chloram-X which is the old Amquel (the patent ran out and Hikari is now distributing it). From reed mariculture you can get 5 pounds for $38 including shipping, http://www.reed-mariculture.com/cloram-x. It treats ammonia, chlorine, chloramine. It's cheap enough to use for regular water changes and if you water quality goes south on you, you have the best ammonia binder on hand.

<}}}><

Awesome tip and thanks for the link. I am trying to find a economical and less odorous replacement for Prime.

Eric

[WakinAZ]

Just noticed my favorite supply house has the 5 lb. bucket *on sale* for $30.50 plus shipping: http://jehmco.com/html/water_conditioners.html These guys also stock the Hydro-Sponge stack kits, as well as everything else...

Eric

[eros]

Is this something I can add to the tap water in the tank as Im replacing it or is this something that I make a stock solution on?

Sorry, I know I'm being lazy as I can research it online. Ive been using Pond Prime on all my tanks since the beginning. Just trying to save a couple bucks so I can buy some Kobe steaks, just kiddin:coffee:

[bekko]

You can get sodium thiosulfate for about $1.50 per pound in bulk. The large crystals take a few minutes to dissolve but I believe the reaction of dissolved sodium thiosulfate with chlorine is pretty quick. You can dissolve the stuff ahead of time and dose 2 parts sodium thiosulfate for every 1 part chlorine. Sodium thiosulfate is not toxic to fish until the excess which has not reacted with chlorine reaches about 100 ppm. So, if you use enough to neutralize 4 ppm chlorine when your make-up water only contains 0.5 ppm chlorine, there is no harm done.

-steve