hey
I was adding the aquasafe at water changes to elimate chlorine/chloramine which I know is in the water.
Then I read that thi sstuff removes metals (copper for example) and I was worried that it would nullify my trace fertilisers, also added at water changes.
So I didnt want to be wasting time and money adding both if one was hindering the other.
Im not really into adding stuff to the tanks anyway as I haven no real problems with either fish plants or algae.
But thanks for th einfo
mdowdall
So the purpose of the Aquasafe is to remove chlorine and chloramine, as these chemicals are regularly added to tap water in order to prevent bacteria build up. Unfortunately those same chemicals that keep our drinking water clean kill the beneficial bacteria in the aquarium.
Aquasafe is designed to take out the chlorine and chloramine, as well as remove the heavy metals as mentioned already. Heavy metals are: Mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), chromium (Cr), thallium (Tl), and lead (Pb). You don't really want to be drinking these yourself, although I think that humans can tolerate a certain level. I'd leave that research up to you.
However to fish, smaller amounts of these metals are likely more dangerous, hence the aquasafe. I'm not sure if aquasafe is a chemical compound that breaks down these heavy metals or bacteria that live off them, another good thing to research.
Plantamin and fertilisers will provide elements to the aquarium such as magnesium, iron and potassium. These are not heavy metals and should therefore not be "treated" by the aquasafe.
I have been using aquasafe when I do water changes and tetramin once a month, although I think that with regular water changes I need to up the dosage of tetramin.