Is it possible to overdose on Prime?

[mel_20_20]

Just wondering. I have used the emergency dose on the bottle several times in the past, and have never had any problems, but I wondered if anyone had any bad experiences.

I did a 50% water change Sunday evening, and I need to do a water change tonight but I'm exhausted. I should have done it yesterday, but between work and a lot of things happening at the house I couldn't do it, so I dosed the tank with Prime.

5ml is the emergency dose for a 10 gallon tank. My nitrite was .25 last night.

I need to do a water change right now, but I am about to drop, and wondered if I dose the tank again will that cause any problems for my critters. One brochis, two ottos, two ADFs, two ghost shrimp, one brigs.

Temp 78, ph 7, ammonia 0, nitrite .25, nitrate 40, a few pieces of anachris, 10 gallon, HOB for 10-15 gallon.

Everyone in the tank seems fine, but I don't want to leave the nitrites unaddressed.

 

[mel_20_20]

My tank has been cycled for a long time, though with a 10 gallon I have had a few minicycles in the past that I've handled with frequent water changes to bring the params to normal immediately.

I haven't added new fish or anything since adding shrimp in November.

I don't know why I'm seeing nitrites, I do a 50% water change every 4 or 5 days.
My inhabitants are all healthy. I did feed frozen bloodworms day before yesterday and I guess I could have missed some in my vacuuming, but I'm really pretty thorough.

So, could I dose with Prime again, or would it be bad for my occupants?

 

[7itanium]

it IS possible.. but it would take a lot

also... it seems to me that your tank is either not cycled-- or is experiencing a mini-cycle

how old is the tank?
whats your maintenence routine?

dosing prime to reduce nitrite is not generally a good idea... water changes are the way to go

 

[scootrnerd]

i dose with prime almost weekly if not more. i don't think it is possible to OD on prime.

 

[mel_20_20]

I do 50 to 60% every 4 or 5 days. I vacuum each time. I have had 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, and around 20-40 nitrates. I just added anachris a couple of weeks ago to help keep nitrates around 20.

I haven't had a mini cycle since I went out of town first of April when my sister overfed. I got it under control and back to normal, good parameters. I love clean water and that's why I usually do a water change every 4 or 5 days, some times I do it sooner if I fed a lot of FBWs and worry that I didn't vacuum all the uneaten ones.

My biofilter looks good, nice and full of bacteria. Not gunked up with algae either.

 

[mel_20_20]

I fed with FBWs Sunday night and may have missed some in the substrate, though I'm pretty thorough. I have that angular rough gravel that stuff just goes right through down to the glass. I want to go to pool filter sand or something.

 

[7itanium]

your not washing your filter too much are you? just a though because other than that it seems you are doing everything right

are you showing any ammonia ever?

I guess it would be kinda possible if you overdosed prime that it would get rid of all the ammonia and nitrite-- starving your bacteria.. but I think you would need to dose it daily for that to happen

 

[Zebulon]

Continue doing water changes as necessary to keep nitrites safe. If you aren't showing ammonia then your Nitrosomonas seem intact. Wait out the recooperation of your Nitrospira, they double every 12-32 hours. Only dose prime to condition the water. Adding more plants will also help buffer your water quality but keep in mind that adding them without quarantine has its own risks.

To answer your other question, I don't think prime is particularly toxic, but it is a chemical you don't need. Dilution is the Solution.

 

[ChrisK]

A good while back when I was fish cycling even with the water changes I couldn't get my nitrite below .50 I would 5x dose prime twice daily, and had no problems. Never lost a fish either thank goodness, i'm wiser now no fishy cycle for me too much work :lol:

 

[fishorama]

Is the nitrite down today? I don't think I'd do over twice the regular Prime dosage & only very short term.

I would feed less too until you can get back to regular water changes.

I have a bulb syphon that removes water fast & a couple gallon milk jugs for refills. It only takes a few minutes to change a couple gallons. It can really make a difference in a small tank even without vacuuming in an emergency.