The water condition is crucial to fish health when you introduce fish to you aquarium for the first time.
The water conditions may determine whether your fish acclimatize or simply die.
To improve the water condition in the tank, aquarists choose dechlorination. Many beginners ask me what will happen if we put too much of the dechlorinator into the water?
The answer is simple: you can harm your fish and even cause their death.
Of course, it depends on the dose you use. It should also be emphasized that the dechlorinator is usually used in water where there are no fish yet.
However, if you have fish in the aquarium and you use a dechlorinator, you may endanger the health of your fish. Generally, these preparations are designed not to be life-threatening.
Nevertheless, I have experienced a situation where all my denison barbs died after adding the agent.
There were more incidents, but it made me realize that it’s crucial to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations.
In this article, I discussed everything related to aquarium dechlorination.
You’ll learn how to effectively dechlorinate an aquarium, the consequences of excessive dechlorinator use, and ways to resolve them.
What is a dechlorinator?
A dechorant is simply a chemical used to remove chlorine and chloramine from water to clean it up. It is the simplest water conditioner that removes harmful elements from water.
Chlorine and chloramine are substances used to disinfect and eliminate pathogenic microorganisms in water. They’re added to drinking water, pool water, and in the food industry. Chlorine is used all over the world.
Dechlorination is intended to remove chlorine and chloramine from water because they may have undesirable health effects. There are alternative methods of water disinfection, such as
radiation or ozonation, which are less toxic than chlorine and chloramine.
In fishkeeping, there are many dechlorinating agents available. In most cases, they’re safe for your aquarium fish and biological filters as long as you follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
As a rule, we do not use a dechlorinator in an aquarium that already has fish because there is simply no need. Except, of course, for water changes, which I will write more about below.
Do you need to use a dechlorinator in your water?
If this is your new aquarium, you must use a dechlorinator in the water before adding the fish.
During water changes, if you use tap water, it is also worth adding a chlorinator to the water.
Of course, you cannot add drinking water to the aquarium like Evian or Saint Geron. In most cases it will be tap water or well water.
In such cases, a dechlorinator comes to your aid. Most modern cities use chlorine and chloramine to remove harmful pathogens.
Wells in villages are also treated with chlorine to prevent the development of unfavorable pathogens.
The chlorine used to manage the water is minimal and doesn’t harm humans or land animals like cows or goats.
However, too much chlorine could kill your fish. Dechlorinator is used to reduce the amount of chlorine in the water to a value close to zero.
Not everyone talks about it, but it is worth knowing that chlorine can evaporate from water within a few hours to a few days. Chloramine is more stable compared to chlorine and can stay in the water much longer.
How quickly chlorine evaporates depends on factors such as temperature, ventilation and the size of the water surface.
If you have pre-prepared water for aquarium changes, the chlorine content will likely be so low that dechlorinator won’t be necessary.
I have one small fish tank and I do not use a dechlorinator during water changes because I always have the water prepared in advance.
Of course, there is nothing stopping you from adding a dechlorinator to such water because it will remove all chlorine residues.
The situation is slightly different in the case of large aquariums. None of you probably have the ability to prepare 20 gallons of water in advance for a water change, which may be left for several days.
In such a situation, a conditioner will allow you to immediately add water into the aquarium.
Is too much dechlorinator kill fish?
Yes, too much dechlorinator can be harmful to fish and aquarium filters.
Dechlorinating chemicals can accumulate in the water and harm your fish.
They may contain sulfates or thiosulfates, which can be harmful to fish health if overused.
Additionally, dechlorinators often remove oxygen from the water. If there is a lack of oxygen in the aquarium, it may be dangerous for your fish.
If you have any doubts, it is worth checking the oxygen level in the aquarium using an oximeter. And of course, keep an eye on the fish.
Fish will quickly let you know if there is a lack of oxygen in the fish tank. If you notice symptoms such as gasping for air or lethargy, it will be a sign that there is a lack of oxygen in the aquarium.
What should I do if I use too much dechlorinator ?
Too much dechlorinator can cause it to bind with dissolved oxygen, which can kill your fish.
That’s why it’s crucial to use the right amount of water conditioner.
If you’ve added too much dechlorinator, you should perform a water change as soon as possible.
In this situation, I would recommend at least 50% water change or more, and I wouldn’t treat it before checking the water conditions after filling it and running for a few hours.
The water you leave in the aquarium will combine with the new water and it may not be necessary to treat conditioner again.
If you currently have fish in your aquarium, it is best to move to another established fish tank.
If that’s not possible, consider moving them to water that’s been left to stand until the water change is complete.
How to choose the right dechlorinator for an aquarium?
It’s worth spending a bit more time to find the right dechlorinator that will be safe for your aquarium.
Below I present some suggestions that will help you choose the right dechlorintor for your fish tank.
Every dechlorinator will certainly remove chlorine from water, but not everyone will remove chlorine from tap water. Pay special attention to this because chloramine can also be harmful to your aquarium.
Products that do not remove chloramine from water should have this information on their label. It is worth reading it carefully and checking whether they can neutralize chloramine from water. Often this information may be hidden.
I also recommend not to choose agents that remove other compounds from water, such as ammonia. This may harm the biological filtration of the tank.
Some brands also claim that dechlorinator can improve the health of your fish. Nothing could be further from the truth.
This is only to encourage you to buy this product.
Choose an agent that only removes cholramine and chlorine from tap water and can be used in an aquarium.
You will certainly find a wide range of options, but in my opinion API is the best.
I have been using it for years and I am completely satisfied with it. I don’t see any need to pay more for additional features.
Of course, the choice is yours on which dechlorinator you want to use.
Where do you get a dechlorinator?
You shouldn’t have problems with the availability of a dechlorinator . It will be available at almost any local pet shop.
Especially stores focused on aquariums will definitely have such a product that meets various customer requirements.
Another way is to order in online stores.
What is the average cost of a dechlorinator?
Cost dechlorinator typically did not exceed $10. Of course, if we need a large amount to remove chlorine and chlormaine from a large aquarium, we can purchase a larger capacity of the conditioner.
In such a situation, the price will be much higher. Of course, everything depends on your needs. If you need additional properties, the price may also be slightly higher.
How to properly use a dechlorinator in an aquarium?
Below I’ll explain how the dechlorination process should look when using tap water. Of course, you must always read the label on the packaging before starting work.
Most reliable brands will ask to use 1-2 drops of dechlorinator per 2 gallons of tank water.
You also may see instructions to add 5 ml of water conditioner to a 10-gallon tank.
The instructions on the back may of course vary depending on the conditioner you will be using. Therefore, please read the label on the packaging first.
When you add new water in the fish tank, dechlorinate the freshwater only. It is not necessary to use a dechlorinator for all the water in the tank.
The dechlorinator is a fast-acting additive, so it neutralizes chlorine and chloramine in just 10 minutes. Of course, the action time may vary depending on the brand of conditioner .
Before introducing fish into the aquarium, wait at least 30 minutes. After introducing the fish, observe them and pay attention to their behavior.
Unusual swimming behavior or gasping for air at the surface may be a sign that you have added too much dechlorinator.
Should I leave the water overnight after using the dechlorinator?
There is no need to leave the water overnight, but it is highly recommended.
The dechlorinator works very quickly. First, it will quickly eliminate chlorine. The process of removing chloramine from water takes slightly longer.
If we prepare water for a water change, we can leave it aside for one night or more.
Is there an alternative to a dechlorinator?
No, there is no better alternative. You may not use a dechlorinator, but only if you leave the water open and have a large surface area of contact with air.
In this situation, chlorine will evaporate from the water within a few hours to a few days. Chloramine is more stable, so it can stay in water for up to several weeks, depending on conditions.
However, you don’t want this, so it’s better if you use a dechlorinator .
You must also remember that the chlorine evaporation process is not completely effective. Chlorine residues may always remain in the water.
We can try using activated carbon, which can help remove chlorine and chloramine. However, it is not as effective as a dechlorinator .
In conclusion
The dechlorinator itself shouldn’t harm your fish, but the chlorine and chloramine in the water can cause trouble.
Make sure you pick the right dechlorinator for your tank before adding new water.
They’re usually pretty affordable and easy to find, and they work with both tap and well water, so that part’s easy.
Just follow the instructions on the bottle, and you’ll be good to go. Don’t stress too much about it.
Instead, focus on keeping your fish happy by checking things like water temperature and pH levels regularly.
