[vinnyxgunz]

my plan is to change 20 gallons (33% water change) once a week.

if i subtract/add 5" to my tank's water level it's 19 gallons. i plan on adding that through the python and adding a 1 gallon jug full of treatment.

in that 1 gallon:
4 teaspoons baking soda
4 tablespoons epsom salt
40 drops of prime

i would slowly add the gallon as the water from the python is being added.

is this safe?

 

[fox]

Add the prime to the tank just before filling.

Dose buffers slowly as you replace water during maintenance.

I am pretty certain others will have different methods.

 

[GTZ]

I take it your tap water has a low pH? Also why the salt?

 

[vinnyxgunz]

my water ph is very low... mid-6

and my house has a water softener - great for showering, but not good for mbuna

 

[nodima]

In changing my two big tanks, I change approx 75 or 90 gallons (50%) and simply add the total amount of conditioner needed within a minute or so of starting the refill, and add half the salt mix 1/3 of the way to full, and the other half 2/3 of the way to full. Been doing this for as long as I have had the tanks, without issue.

Many other use the same approach, if you do a search...

 

[bmweiler09]

I used a 5 gallon bucket to test the speed of my python. It did 5 gallons in about 80 seconds so I add two drops of prime every 15 seconds while filling. This way I don't ever have to measure or guess how much water I removed. If you do this just make sure you test at the same temp as the tank water since the faucet speed will change depending on temp.

 

[Jmanolinsky]

I just add the Prime to the tank before refilling. I usually do a 50% water change every week. Sometimes it is as much as 75% WC if the tank is really dirty.