I wanna put more water in my tank cause when I started it i just filled it about 2inch from the top. how should i fill it up more? can i just put water in and then treat it? or do i have to put it into something and filter it and treat it and then put it in?

When ever I have to do a top off I just treat the water with a dechlorinator/whatever in a bucket first then put it in small bits at a time so that it doesnt change the temperature drastically. If that helps at all.

Same. I just squirt some liquid dechlorinator (i use stresscoat), then turn on the faucet. I don't even measure for stresscoat because it also helps promote fin growth and reduce fish stress.

this is the procedure I take for a water change or to top it off:

as the other members said, no matter how much you put into the tank, even if it is a cup, you must dechlorinate it

1. I have a 5 gallon bucket from Big Al's Online (strictly for fish tanks), I drain the water via a hose into the bucket; I do 9 gallons twice a week, so let's say, liek today, I took out 9 gallons via a siphon hose (flushed the water down the tub drain)

2. I use a gallon jug (that had spring water in it, bought it at Walmart), I fill the bucket up with 3 gallons measuring with the gallon container, then I fill up the gallon container, therefore, it gives me 4 gallons

3. I take the two containers to the studio where the tank is, I have a measuring spoon, I place almost a 1/2 teaspoon of dechliorinater into the bucket & gallon container

4. I pour the gallon container directly into the tank, very slowly

5. then I lft up the bucket (it's not too heavy with 3 gallons), and pour it very slowly into the tank

then I repeat the process all over again until I have 9 gallon (the last gallon is from the gallon container)

to top off the tank, put some dechlorinater into the gallon container and slowly top off the tank

I use Kordon NovAqua+ water conditioner that removes chlorine, toxic metals, breaks down chloramine yet adds some lost vitamins. I do not use a product that strictly conditions the water, because it can actually backfire for it raises the nutrient level way too much. But I find NovAqua+ does the trick.

your tank like mine has a black strip along the top; what you want to do is, have the waterline just a 1/16th" above the black strip or else if you have a lot of areation as I do, the canopy glass will be splashed or it may give fish an easier time to jump out or the condensation does not collect as much

hope this helps