Hello everyone! I'm new, but hope to become a contributing member. For right now I have a question about a rather suspicious (and expensive) dechlorinator I've come across:

It's called " SuperBac All Natural Dechlorinator ", and claims to instantly remove chlorine and chloramine using a completely natural vitamin-C formula, and also "boosts fish immune system, replaces slime coat, helps bb attach" without any other chemicals or effects. I can't find any information (other than propaganda) or reviews. It seems like a fairly new product, and is unproven as far as I can tell. It seems too good to be true.

Is there any way other than a chlorine test that I could tell if this stuff works? Has anyone heard of or used it before?

don't know but suspect snake oil

dechlorinators IMHO and uncessary in my systems because I use plants, wait a week before adding fish, and do no water changes.

You could also age water for a day or so and most chlorine/chloramine would be neutralized

my .02

__________________
fw leiden since 1979, fo salt since 1979, mixed reef 55g 2002-2009. Strong emphasis on the tank taking care of itself. Balanced with plant life, no water changes, tap water, no filters in FW. Only dosing calcium, alk, mag in marine reef tanks. http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/my-...ods-26410.html
recent tanks (till 2009) 7 years- 10g FW leiden 7 yrs, 55g mixed reef 7, 2 yrs, 20g FW leiden, 10 g fw leiden , 29g mixed reef, current tank 55g leiden

Thanks for the replies. I might actually get a chlorine test at some point and see if there's any reliability in this stuff. I'll be sure to post the results. It might be a good option for those who wish to keep their tanks as chemical-free as possible.

For what it's worth, I have had great success with fish for years without ever using a dechlorination product. Or any other chemical for that matter.

__________________

Are you a no water change person like beaslbob or do you leave the water to sit before using it?

If you want to avoid Chlorine entirely, use only Distilled or Bottled Drinking water in your tanks. Read the labels to make sure Chlorine isn't used to make either water source. Make sure your water is well aeriated before use and your ph isn't too low. Lots of plants in your tank will also help.

I typically do one water change a month. Twenty percent or so. Straight from the tap.

__________________

I could just do that. I'm pretty sure my tap water has regular chlorine, not chloramine.

By the way, wouldn't using bottled or distilled water cause issues with (lack of) hardness? I would just have to use aquarium salt or something anyway in that case.

Vitamin C dechlorinator, Hmmm? Maybe half an orange shoved in your filteration system would work just as well. But that's just my vodka talkin'!

I never dosed my reefer with vodka, I preferred Jose Quervo! Doubles!