Water Conditioner: contents unknown

[Mike De Soto]

While setting up a new tank I found a packet of water conditioner in my
spare parts box. I got it free when I bought my first tank two years ago. Is
it still good? I assume so. But the main question: What chemicals are in it?

I got it at Aquarium City in Perth, Australia. It's a mix of blue and white
(or light blue crystals) powder called "Start Right Water Conditioner".
Googled the name, but couldn't find the brands homepage. Seems "start right"
is a common catch phrase for this sort of thing. It could also be a house
mix. In any case, it says 1tsp/20L and came in a 150g plastic bag. Sale
price is $3 AUD. So that's the specifics. Just hoping someone out there can
clue me in as to what similar products contain/do. If the label said
"dechlorinator" or something like that I wouldn't be posting. But
"conditioner" is pretty vague, and I'd like to know if it's doing anything.

One last question: Any recommended conditioner brands for the Perth area?

One more: Any Perth people know about the municipal water quality?

I've been gradually getting into the hobby the past few years and have been
told something different at every shop I've been to. Seems theres experts,
and theres shop owners.

Thanks

Mike

[Mike De Soto]

Just a thought: the conditioner was packaged in a generic plastic bag with a
label made by the store on an ink jet printer. If it isn't a house mix,
they're repackaging some other brand. Why would they do this? I understand
it for new tank packages, but the conditioner I got had a price on it like
they were selling it on a shelf. But why would a store spend the time to
make a house mix in the first place?

"Mike De Soto" > wrote in message
...
> While setting up a new tank I found a packet of water conditioner in my
> spare parts box. I got it free when I bought my first tank two years ago.
Is
> it still good? I assume so. But the main question: What chemicals are in
it?
>
> I got it at Aquarium City in Perth, Australia. It's a mix of blue and
white
> (or light blue crystals) powder called "Start Right Water Conditioner".
> Googled the name, but couldn't find the brands homepage. Seems "start
right"
> is a common catch phrase for this sort of thing. It could also be a house
> mix. In any case, it says 1tsp/20L and came in a 150g plastic bag. Sale
> price is $3 AUD. So that's the specifics. Just hoping someone out there
can
> clue me in as to what similar products contain/do. If the label said
> "dechlorinator" or something like that I wouldn't be posting. But
> "conditioner" is pretty vague, and I'd like to know if it's doing
anything.
>
> One last question: Any recommended conditioner brands for the Perth area?
>
> One more: Any Perth people know about the municipal water quality?
>
> I've been gradually getting into the hobby the past few years and have
been
> told something different at every shop I've been to. Seems theres experts,
> and theres shop owners.
>
> Thanks
>
> Mike
>
>

[Marksfish]

> Just a thought: the conditioner was packaged in a generic plastic bag with
a
> label made by the store on an ink jet printer. If it isn't a house mix,
> they're repackaging some other brand. Why would they do this? I understand
> it for new tank packages, but the conditioner I got had a price on it like
> they were selling it on a shelf. But why would a store spend the time to
> make a house mix in the first place?
>
Maybe they bought it in bulk i.e 25 litres and have just broken it down
into smaller packages. More profit for them. It is quite common practice for
an LFS in the UK to use this method for flake food.

Regards

Mark

[Jim Morcombe]

Mike

In Perth the water differs from suburb to suburb.

The Water Corp has sunk hundreds of bores around Perth and they mix all
types of groundwater in with the scheme water. If you have ener been around
a sprinkler in Willetton when it is turned on, you would notice there is so
much Hydrogen Sulphide in ther water tht you need a gas mask. The
groundwater north of Perth has a very high mineral content while ares like
Floreat Park have groundwater that you can drink untreated.

My sister lives in Joondalup and my Dad lives in Edgewater. Up north, they
have to dump heaps of stuff into their water. I'm not sure what, but I
believe their pH is far too high and their is a very heavy mineral content.

I live in Wembley Downs and I can take water straight out of the tap an use
it. My pH is spot on.

Most of the advice you receive from store owners is correct - but only for
the water in their area.

Jim



Mike De Soto > wrote in message
...
> While setting up a new tank I found a packet of water conditioner in my
> spare parts box. I got it free when I bought my first tank two years ago.
Is
> it still good? I assume so. But the main question: What chemicals are in
it?
>
> I got it at Aquarium City in Perth, Australia. It's a mix of blue and
white
> (or light blue crystals) powder called "Start Right Water Conditioner".
> Googled the name, but couldn't find the brands homepage. Seems "start
right"
> is a common catch phrase for this sort of thing. It could also be a house
> mix. In any case, it says 1tsp/20L and came in a 150g plastic bag. Sale
> price is $3 AUD. So that's the specifics. Just hoping someone out there
can
> clue me in as to what similar products contain/do. If the label said
> "dechlorinator" or something like that I wouldn't be posting. But
> "conditioner" is pretty vague, and I'd like to know if it's doing
anything.
>
> One last question: Any recommended conditioner brands for the Perth area?
>
> One more: Any Perth people know about the municipal water quality?
>
> I've been gradually getting into the hobby the past few years and have
been
> told something different at every shop I've been to. Seems theres experts,
> and theres shop owners.
>
> Thanks
>
> Mike
>
>

[Jim Morcombe]

They probably buy it in bulk and then just re-package it. Just like City
Farmers do with their Fish Flakes.

Jim


Mike De Soto > wrote in message
...
> Just a thought: the conditioner was packaged in a generic plastic bag with
a
> label made by the store on an ink jet printer. If it isn't a house mix,
> they're repackaging some other brand. Why would they do this? I understand
> it for new tank packages, but the conditioner I got had a price on it like
> they were selling it on a shelf. But why would a store spend the time to
> make a house mix in the first place?
>
> "Mike De Soto" > wrote in message
> ...
> > While setting up a new tank I found a packet of water conditioner in my
> > spare parts box. I got it free when I bought my first tank two years
ago.
> Is
> > it still good? I assume so. But the main question: What chemicals are in
> it?
> >
> > I got it at Aquarium City in Perth, Australia. It's a mix of blue and
> white
> > (or light blue crystals) powder called "Start Right Water Conditioner".
> > Googled the name, but couldn't find the brands homepage. Seems "start
> right"
> > is a common catch phrase for this sort of thing. It could also be a
house
> > mix. In any case, it says 1tsp/20L and came in a 150g plastic bag. Sale
> > price is $3 AUD. So that's the specifics. Just hoping someone out there
> can
> > clue me in as to what similar products contain/do. If the label said
> > "dechlorinator" or something like that I wouldn't be posting. But
> > "conditioner" is pretty vague, and I'd like to know if it's doing
> anything.
> >
> > One last question: Any recommended conditioner brands for the Perth
area?
> >
> > One more: Any Perth people know about the municipal water quality?
> >
> > I've been gradually getting into the hobby the past few years and have
> been
> > told something different at every shop I've been to. Seems theres
experts,
> > and theres shop owners.
> >
> > Thanks
> >
> > Mike
> >
> >
>
>