mlkpookie

I was wondering if it is bad to consistantly use tap water for my water changes. I have a thermometer so I can match up temps, but I do have to use a dechlorinater as I have chlorine in my water. I thought you had to let the water age first.

I have a 70 gal tank with goldfish and am overstocked, so I'm talking about a 50% water change weekly.

Kuli_Loach

I do 70% weekly and I am not over stocked. I always put stress coat in the bucket with the water.

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Too Many tanks!!!

CMG

I use sink water too for everything but I always always add stress coat to it first. I dont worry about aging. My fish are tough and my parameters dont flux.

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40 gallon FW Tank with a UGF & HOB Bio Wheel. A few rocks and fake plants.
Fish: 1 Pleco, 2 German Blue Rams (my fav. so far) , 4 Flying Fox, 4 Marble Hatchet, 2 Koolie Loaches,4 Congo Tetra, 1 Red eye Tetra
Just bought a 55g with built in wet/dry to start a SW tank FOWLR

pappyy3

As long as your water parameters are OK, It's fine to use tap water for your water changes.

In fact most people will be doing the same thing.

Adding chlorine remover is a good idea. This will ensure that your fish don't suffer from the effects of this chemical in their water.

Adding Stress-coat to your tank at each water change is somewhat of overkill to me. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with being cautious, but If your fish are in good health and already acclimatised to your tank, stress-coat at water change time is not really needed.

mlkpookie

Sorry you guys, I guess I should have told you that I have a vacuum/siphon hose that works by hooking it up to my sink. It just has a switch on it that allows you to siphon or fill.
I siphon the water out of the tank and up until recently have been aging tap water then adding it, but I found out that I have to increase the amount of water changed.
I wanted to make sure it was ok to just flip the switch and fill the tank with water straight out of the tap without aging it, and then adding the water conditioner.

pappyy3

That will work

Jay

I agree...
I would rethink the Stress Coat dosing

Regards,
Jay

mlkpookie

We actually use aquasafe and without running to check on it, if my memory serves me correct it does have stress coating in it.

Tommy Gun

I use the same method as you with the python (the thing that attaches to your sink) and use a simple dechlor conditoner every time I add water due to a water change, or for evaporation. I have used stress coat in the past, which if memory serves me correctly (which it sometimes doesn't), it is just a dechlor product with aloe to coat the fish...or something similar to that. I basically became leery of that product due to the fact that I could see it when I poured it into my tank, and then by some of the comments/experiences of members on this forum. Point being, it is not an absolute 'must have' and as usual, I agree with Jay on the idea that you might want to rethink your using it.

In any case, most dechlor conditioners also advertise as being helpful for stress/slime coat production. In short, I am not exactly sure how it happens, probably either because of the chemicals needed for the chlorine removal or because it has some type of salt in it, which is irritating (in varying degrees, not always a huge issue anyways) to your fish, which spurs stress/slime coat production. Whatever the case may be, my impression is that this is just a secondary effect (or 'added bonus', if you will) of its origonal use and I think you might be hard pressed to find a dechlor product which doesnt do the same...even if they don't advertise it as such.

twood63

As far as the Stress coat I ten to agree with PAPPyy3. My Discus already have a heavy slime coat naturally and it would actually do more harm than good, but I do use on my community for the scaleless fish and a dechlorinator at least for me is a must. you can smell the chlorine in our water.

T