Caveat Emptor- Things may not always be what you read!

The reason for this article is too help folks to take the time to read and look at labels. I just recently came across an classic example of this very thing.  

I went to a local well known Hardware chain for some fittings for a service account. On the way out to register I noticed they had a new shelf for pond items, pumps,lights,food, and water treatments. One product "Naturals Chlorine Remover plus Conditioner for ponds 16 oz." for $9.89...... What caught my eye was the amount it said it treated. On the label it states "Treats up to 9460 Gallons(35,810 Litros)" now this sounds good but in all my years doing this I have not yet seen any 16 oz size dechlorinator that does that! 

So took a minute to read directions and upon doing so the I came to realize WE HAVE problem!

Directions for use:

Apply 5 ml (one Capful) per each 20 gallons of pond water. One 16 oz bottle treats 9460 gallons of pond water.

Let's do some simple math here....... 16 oz (473 ml) again off the bottle label. So we take the suggested 5 ml per 20 gallons of water treatment and divide it into 473 ml and I come up with 94.6 treatments per bottle. Now if the case then I took 94.6 times 20 gallons per treatment and it came up to 1892 gallons it will treat per bottle. So my question then is how can they claim it will treat 9460 Gallons?

Whats even more confusing to the consumer is there website says it will "Treats up to 1930 gallons. So I have to ask myself which is correct? 1892 gallons per the instructions or 1930 gallons on website or the 9460 gallons on the bottle label? Which is what the consumer is going to be reading not the website. Caveat Emptor- Things may not always be what you read! 

I called their service center to alert them and ask for their explanation....wow I was in for a surprize on the answers given. Took two tries to just get a real person on the phone without it disconnecting. Then told her the problem and her answer was to just follow the directions on back label..... that they had an issue with a label misprint about a year ago!  Wow then this product in itself has expired sitting on shelf then we really don't need to worry about dosage! She couldn't put any one in charge on the phone to talk about this problem, but suggested that you should test your water before adding fish to make sure there in no chlorine in pond. And that suggestion is on the label right? Am wondering how many folks may have had a bad day using this product.

I can not emphasize enough that ALL pond hobbyists need to read labels, ask question before introducing any products into system. Know what you're putting into your pond whether its food, dechlor, or any type of water conditioner, parasite treatment. Most important KNOW how many gallons you have in system that is total gallons including filters,pipes.

It may cost more but buying a well known brand used by most all Koi keepers is ClorAm-X is a unique, dry powder, water conditioner that has been scientifically formulated to remove, and thereby detoxify, ammonia, chlorine and chloramines from water for use in all types of fish and aquatic invertebrate culture. ClorAm-X is a excellent additive when transporting fish because it can safeguard fish from ammonia for up to 72 hours. ClorAm-X is the ingredient in “Powdered AmQuel”.

ClorAm-X will:
Removes & Detoxifies Chlorine
Removes & Detoxifies Chloramines
Removes & Detoxifies Ammonia
Is non-toxic
Is water-soluble
Safeguard fish during shipping
1 pound jar (treats 3,759 gallons), 5 pound pail (treats 18,794 gallons), 10 pound pail (treats 37,588 gallons)
Dosage Rate: Once ounce per 235 gallons of water to remove 1mg/L of total ammonia present.

Our local Koi club uses it for the Koi show in San Diego as we have many valuable Koi at this show and need to use the best. I have also used Prime, AmQuel.

Sodium Thiosulphate

Chlorine is known to react with organic matter in the water to form trihalomethanes (THMs), a suspected carcinogen. Using Sodium Thiosulphate you can create a home-made mixture to remove chlorine from your pond water.

Recipe:

Make a solution consisting of 4 ounces (1/4 lb) Sodium Thiosulfate crystals (photo or technical grade) dissolved in 1 gallon of distilled or deionized water. Use 5 ml (1 teaspoon) of the solution for each 10 gallons of makeup water to neutralize up to 3.75 ppm chlorine. One cup can be used for each 500 gallons. (The entire one gallon of solution will treat about 7500 gallons of tap water.) The shelf life of the solution is about six months when stored in a cool location. The crystals will keep for several years if kept dry.

By Norm Meck

In closing be very careful and read labels and ask or look for expiration date on dechlor or any products for you pond. Most all remember most over the counter dechlor will have a shelf life of around 6 months- 9 months plus or minus a few weeks.