quick PRIME question

[Wat2Go]

I am conditioning my tap water with prime. When I do a PWC I add the prime to the new water (I use three gallon buckets so I add six drops per bucket (I use the small bottles of prime)). Only to the new water, thinking the tank is already in good condition.

In another thread (http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums...=116400&page=3 (http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=116400&page=3), post 22) I read you are supposed to add prime to the whole tank after doing a pwc, so should I have added 110 drops to the 55 gallon (of course I would not use the drops, I would use the capfull method) whenever I did a pwc? This doesn't really make sense to me but maybe I am missing something??
I do 40 to 50% changes.

[I have posted this question in another thread but didn't get an answer and I would really like to know the answer]

L.

[rwilliams254]

Argh...here we go again.


Do a search for Prime and you'll see that it's debatable.

The general rule of thumb for engineering is "always over engineer, never under." I take that stance with Prime as well...I treat the tank since too much isn't harmful, but too little is.

[Wat2Go]

Sorry the question annoys you. I did do a search on prime, but couldn't find this discussion, hence me posting it here. Maybe some newbies - like me - learn something?

L.

[Rbishop]

The basics behind Prime's instructions are, if you are filling back up with buckets, treat the buckets for the correct volume/drops...effectively treating for the volume of the water change.

If you are filling back to the tank from a hose/Python, treat for the volume of the tank.

[southpaw]

From what I have read I believe most that dose the whole tank are not using buckets to fill but are using Pythons or something similar.....but either way should work...dose the amount in your buckets or dose for the whole tank then pore the water in the buckets in. You could always add a few drops more to the bucket too before you pour it in to help the rest of the tank I would think...Just my opinion as I am a newbie myself :)

[hatcheridiot]

That makes sense rbishop. Because if you're taking a set amount of water out (measured by buckets), you know how much water to treat. Additionally, you can treat the water before it mixes with the original tank water. If you're just filling back up, often you don't know how much to treat exactly AND you're tainted water is all mixed up. So then you'd want to treat it ALL to be sure.

Sorry for the elaborate justification of something you already knew but I was wondering the same question Wat2Go asked. Now it all clicks.

[OgreMkV]

I always add a few drops to my buckets. I use the 3 gallon tubs too, but I treat them for like 5-7 gallons... couldn't hurt right... except starving the bacteria of ammonia.

[Aphotic Phoenix]

Prime doesn't remove Ammonia...it just converts it to the less toxic form, which bacteria can still consume.

[cmartin]

I switched to Prime a couple of months ago. I use a Python so the water comes straight from the kitchen tap.
I ususally give a double dose based on the amount of water I am changes.
If I change 20 gal - I dose as if I had changed 40. I do not dose for the tank which is 72 gal.
It has been working well - no problems at all - water conditions are perfect and all of the fish are happy and healthy.

[hitman12131976]

At least treat the water that you're adding, but at most treat the tank size. Haha, I guess that's the safest answer.