How long does Prime stay active in water?

laurabb

laurabb

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Jan 7, 2007
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I keep a 1 gallon jug of water on hand for my weekly water changes (for a 2.5 gallon tank). Usually I treat the water with Prime after refilling the jug, and then store it for the next week. I know the chlorine has probably dispersed by the time I use it for the water change even without the Prime, but my understanding is that Prime has other goodies in it that help with the fish's slime coat, etc. I'm just wondering if it's better to store the water as is, then treat it with Prime just before using it for the water change. Or is either way fine?
 
if you're storing the water in a sealed container, nothing is getting dispersed.

i would use the prime right when you add the water to the tank, that way you're absolutely sure that it got done, and you won't have to try to remember if you did it or not.

if you prefer, either way is fine though.
 
I agree - either/or is going to be OK. Actually, if all you have is Cl, and not chloramines in your water, you could just store it & use it w/o any treatment, as long as there's at least a little air eschange above the surface of the stored water.
 
I let tap water sit out for at least 8 hours (and even then it can still smell strongly of chlorine), then I run it through a Brita filter, which does work to remove a lot of the stuff that would normally turn glasses (and tanks) white over time. I drink this water, but for the fish (in a 10G, a 5.5G, and a new 2.5G), I put aside one-gallon jugs of the same water with Prime added. I added the Prime as I am filling the containers so it gets mixed around a bit. I then store the jugs atop my refrigerator, where the rising warmth from the frig warms the water. I usually use all the water and refill the jugs about every four days. I've been doing this for about 18 months, though I just thought up the frig-warmer bit last winter.
 
Ok since your on the Prime Subject. Whenver i Put my water into the tank it looks like im pouring a chemical into it. I have had this tank for 7 months and everything in it is fine but I have never asked about it. the chemical cloud Quickly goes away.
 
chucke said:
Ok since your on the Prime Subject. Whenver i Put my water into the tank it looks like im pouring a chemical into it. I have had this tank for 7 months and everything in it is fine but I have never asked about it. the chemical cloud Quickly goes away.
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this is perfectly normal, and comes from the extreme concentration and thickness of the prime vs. water.
 
Thanks. I kindof Figured But Just wondered
 
Prime will remove chloramines and chlorine from the water. Chlorine may evaporate if you have it open to air, but chloramines will not evaporate. I would just treat before you're ready to pour the water into the tank.
 
i dont mind either way you add the prime, before or during. im sure it works. it wont stop being effective after a day. or the bottle would have us add it every day. but a bonus thought on the evap of chlorine. when chlorine evaps you get ammonia. and it is correct that the chloramines dont evap.

Prime is the best.
 
Prime usually dissapates and is used up within 24hrs of adding to your tank. In clean water it could stay viable for a much longer time. But that would have to be like deionized water, not fish water. With tapwater its hard to say. In either case it wouldnt really matter for you application, it will work just fine either way you dose it. But I would not conisder the Prime to still be active after a whole week in tap water just for safety margin, meaning dont put more tap water in it after a week and expect the prime thats already in it to still treat it.
 
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