Prime ?

Sandi · 08-08-2008, 07:55 AM

Hello,
I have had a nitrate problem as I already talked about in another thread. I did a water change and gravel vac'd, then put in some Prime yesterday.

My question is, do I need to put the Prime in everyday until the levels are in the correct range, or is that a no no

? I tested today and the nitrate is better. I am probably being impatient, but I would like to put some more fish in the tank.

Right now there is a couple of tetra's(leftovers from schools that have died), 2 female betta's, 3 Cories, 2 algae eaters, and 1 fancy goldfish(I know I'm not supposed to do that, but he has been in there for a while and no ammonia problems and he is happy) and 2 blue snails. By the way, this is a 46gallon bowfront.

So the question is, use the prime every day until nitrate levels are ok or once and wait?

Thanks,
Sandi

Obsidian · 08-08-2008, 08:03 AM

I believe stability would be better, but I am not positive. At any rate you don't need to put prime in daily as its primary job is to dechlorinate and deal with heavy metals/toxins.

Sandi · 08-08-2008, 08:40 AM

Obsidian,
Thank you again

I will have to look into stability. I have bought Amquel+ and Prime to rectify my nitrate problem. I think I will keep them on hand just in case, but not as a normal additive to the tank.

Sandi

emc7 · 08-08-2008, 09:07 AM

Quote:

stability. I have bought Amquel+ and Prime

None of these take out nitrate. Prime can "detoxify" nitrate somewhat but it doesn't take it out. Water changes is the main way, Live plants will take out some. And there are some ion exchange resins like NitraSorb that you can put in the filter. If you have no fish in the tank, why not do a 100% water change?

Stability can help you reestablish you filter colonies,

Obsidian · 08-08-2008, 09:54 AM

emc, there are still fish in there, just not angels. I am thinking if she adds the stability then it can help with whatever was stirred up (bacteria wise) in the cleaning process.

Sandi · 08-08-2008, 10:02 AM

The Angel's aren't even in there anymore. I moved them into other tanks. The fish stated above are in the 46 gal right now.

Sandi

emc7 · 08-08-2008, 11:12 AM

Quote:

couple of tetra's(leftovers from schools that have died), 2 female betta's, 3 Cories, 2 algae eaters, and 1 fancy goldfish(I know I'm not supposed to do that, but he has been in there for a while and no ammonia problems and he is happy) and 2 blue snails.

Oh, I get it, these are the fish in the tank. Prime is great at helping fish survive nitrate, but it won't take it down. Use Prime with every water change and keep changing water. You may need to do a significant (50%) water change daily for awhile to really get it down. Fish get used to high nitrate if it creeps up slowly, but it can kill new additions to the tank. Its pretty normal for nitrate to creep up over time in tank that's been running for a couple years. Some people break tanks down yearly, others check nitrate monthly in all tanks.

JustOneMore20 · 08-08-2008, 11:42 AM

Some nitrate is fine. I'm not sure what your level is, but I know some people get the idea that nitrates are bad too. Levels up to 30 or 40ppm are well tolerated by fish. I'd try to keep it around 20ppm though, but even if it went up to 40, you'd be ok gradually bringing it down.

And I agree with emc, water changes are the best way to lower nitrates. You may have to do several water changes if the level is high. Live plants help too. The faster growing ones take in more nitrates. Make sure you have enough light though for the plants you choose.

Sandi · 08-08-2008, 12:58 PM

Well, I guess i will do water changes, just leave the gravel alone.
Thanks everyone,

Sandi

jones57742 · 08-08-2008, 01:45 PM

Folks:

This is my take on this from research which is probably older than a year.

The manufacturers of products such a Prime do not publish (or at least not that I found) the atomic/molecular constituents of their products nor the reaction chains.

The manufacturers claim that their products remove ammonia and nitrites but I believe this claim to be partially incorrect.

I believe that ammonia is reduced to nitrites and nitrites are reduced to nitrates hence emulating the process of ammonia digestion bacteria producing nitrites and nitrite digestion bacteria producing nitrates.

TR

08-08-2008, 07:55 AM	#1
Sandi Fishy Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 19	Prime ? Hello, I have had a nitrate problem as I already talked about in another thread. I did a water change and gravel vac'd, then put in some Prime yesterday. My question is, do I need to put the Prime in everyday until the levels are in the correct range, or is that a no no? I tested today and the nitrate is better. I am probably being impatient, but I would like to put some more fish in the tank. Right now there is a couple of tetra's(leftovers from schools that have died), 2 female betta's, 3 Cories, 2 algae eaters, and 1 fancy goldfish(I know I'm not supposed to do that, but he has been in there for a while and no ammonia problems and he is happy) and 2 blue snails. By the way, this is a 46gallon bowfront. So the question is, use the prime every day until nitrate levels are ok or once and wait? Thanks, Sandi

08-08-2008, 08:03 AM	#2
Obsidian Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Arizona Age: 37 Posts: 1,067	I believe stability would be better, but I am not positive. At any rate you don't need to put prime in daily as its primary job is to dechlorinate and deal with heavy metals/toxins. __________________ Obsidian 20 gallon 1 Dwarf Gourami; 5 Cherry Barbs; 7 Black Neon Tetras; 3 Peppered Cory's; 1 Albino Bristlenose Pleco (Old Blondie) 10 gallon Breaking it down for storage. 5.5 gallon Betta 100 gallon 7 giant danios; 4 Rosy Barbs, 1 German Blue Ram, 7 Julie Cory cats, 2 Burmese Loaches; 4 Zebra Danios

08-08-2008, 09:54 AM	#5
Obsidian Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Arizona Age: 37 Posts: 1,067	emc, there are still fish in there, just not angels. I am thinking if she adds the stability then it can help with whatever was stirred up (bacteria wise) in the cleaning process. __________________ Obsidian 20 gallon 1 Dwarf Gourami; 5 Cherry Barbs; 7 Black Neon Tetras; 3 Peppered Cory's; 1 Albino Bristlenose Pleco (Old Blondie) 10 gallon Breaking it down for storage. 5.5 gallon Betta 100 gallon 7 giant danios; 4 Rosy Barbs, 1 German Blue Ram, 7 Julie Cory cats, 2 Burmese Loaches; 4 Zebra Danios

08-08-2008, 01:45 PM	#10
jones57742 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Age: 56 Posts: 812	Folks: This is my take on this from research which is probably older than a year. The manufacturers of products such a Prime do not publish (or at least not that I found) the atomic/molecular constituents of their products nor the reaction chains. The manufacturers claim that their products remove ammonia and nitrites but I believe this claim to be partially incorrect. I believe that ammonia is reduced to nitrites and nitrites are reduced to nitrates hence emulating the process of ammonia digestion bacteria producing nitrites and nitrite digestion bacteria producing nitrates. TR __________________ Hook Em Horns ... Keep Austin Weird

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08-08-2008, 08:40 AM	#3
Sandi Fishy Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 19	Obsidian, Thank you again I will have to look into stability. I have bought Amquel+ and Prime to rectify my nitrate problem. I think I will keep them on hand just in case, but not as a normal additive to the tank. Sandi

08-08-2008, 10:02 AM	#6
Sandi Fishy Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 19	The Angel's aren't even in there anymore. I moved them into other tanks. The fish stated above are in the 46 gal right now. Sandi

08-08-2008, 11:42 AM	#8
JustOneMore20 Banned Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Birmingham, AL Age: 22 Posts: 3,654	Some nitrate is fine. I'm not sure what your level is, but I know some people get the idea that nitrates are bad too. Levels up to 30 or 40ppm are well tolerated by fish. I'd try to keep it around 20ppm though, but even if it went up to 40, you'd be ok gradually bringing it down. And I agree with emc, water changes are the best way to lower nitrates. You may have to do several water changes if the level is high. Live plants help too. The faster growing ones take in more nitrates. Make sure you have enough light though for the plants you choose.

08-08-2008, 12:58 PM	#9
Sandi Fishy Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 19	Well, I guess i will do water changes, just leave the gravel alone. Thanks everyone, Sandi

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