I disagree that you need to treat the water first for the initial water change. If you add your Amquel (or other dechlorinator) before refilling the tank, the chlorine won't be around long enough to harm your bacteria. If you let the chlorinated (or chloriminated) water sit in there for a couple of hours, that might be different...
I have aging tanks for treating my water, which has chloramine. These aging tanks have a modest bacterial colony that processes the ammonia released when I add sodium thiosulfate to neutralize the chlorine. When I refill my aging tanks, I add water, then add the dechlorinator when the tank is full. I suffer no loss of biofilter when doing this.
I don't think adding tap water & dechlorinator simultaneously will have any negative effects on your biofilter. If you add the dechlor first, and then the water, the chlorine will not around for more than a few moments. Don't believe it? Buy a chlorine/chloramine test and see for yourself.
HTH,
Jim
I have aging tanks for treating my water, which has chloramine. These aging tanks have a modest bacterial colony that processes the ammonia released when I add sodium thiosulfate to neutralize the chlorine. When I refill my aging tanks, I add water, then add the dechlorinator when the tank is full. I suffer no loss of biofilter when doing this.
I don't think adding tap water & dechlorinator simultaneously will have any negative effects on your biofilter. If you add the dechlor first, and then the water, the chlorine will not around for more than a few moments. Don't believe it? Buy a chlorine/chloramine test and see for yourself.
HTH,
Jim