Prime versus AquaPlus (Nutrafin)

[jamiya0727]

I have been reading about chloramine removal and I am wondering what you guys are using. According to some, AquaPlus just breaks bonds, leaving ammonia in the water. Prime converts the ammonia to ammonium (or is it the other way around??) which makes it harmless to fish.

But I keep reading that you don't want to use anything to bind ammonia - you want the tank to cycle rather than hide the ammonia. If you hide the ammonia, then how do you know when the filter has cycled?

Finally, if I put tap water in my bucket and dose with AquaPlus and the ammonia reads 0 with an API liquid test kit, then does that mean it is safe?

I have always used AquaPlus and have never had any problems, until recently I discovered I may not be adding enough (I have posted about this earlier today).

Thanks again,
Jamiya

 

[SubRosa]

My water supply contains chloramine. I use bulk sodium thiosulphate to treat my water which is the active ingredient in regular neutralizers. I routinely change 50% weekly at a bare minimum and I have no issues with ammonia. Prime solves a problem that at least in my area doesn't exist, and it's ridiculously expensive to boot.

 

[chefjamesscott]

prime ftw no fuss no muss and the cost to yield ratios comparatively show the difference more cost but 5 times the use easy choice

 

[jamiya0727]

prime ftw no fuss no muss and the cost to yield ratios comparatively show the difference more cost but 5 times the use easy choice

And what about my concern that Prime would "hide" the ammonia rather than removing it? Unfounded?

Jamiya

 

[SubRosa]

prime ftw no fuss no muss and the cost to yield ratios comparatively show the difference more cost but 5 times the use easy choice

Your math is flawed. I pay $6 for an lb. of thiosulphate. It treats 25000 gallons. While I'm not up to date on the current exchange rate between our countries I doubt you can treat 2500 gallons with $6CDN worth of Prime.

 

[Jspigs]

And what about my concern that Prime would "hide" the ammonia rather than removing it? Unfounded?

Jamiya

From what I understand Prime just converts ammonia to a non-toxic form that will still be removed by your biological filter and help you cycle your tank.

 

[jpappy789]

Just because Prime "converts" a certain molecule of ammonia to ammonium, does not mean it will be ammonium forever. It is temporary. Eventually, the molecule will decompose into NH3 and H+, where the bacteria can use it. The equilibrium is very much dependent on pH as well as temperature. That is not to say that the bacteria cannot oxidize ammonium either. That is something I will have to look into.

Most test kits measure total ammonia (NH4+ and NH3) so if its is unmeasurable, yes it is safe.

 

[jpappy789]

Your math is flawed. I pay $6 for an lb. of thiosulphate. It treats 25000 gallons. While I'm not up to date on the current exchange rate between our countries I doubt you can treat 2500 gallons with $6CDN worth of Prime.

The OP want a comparison of Prime and AquaPlus...so the math is NOT flawed.

 

[chefjamesscott]

Your math is flawed. I pay $6 for an lb. of thiosulphate. It treats 25000 gallons. While I'm not up to date on the current exchange rate between our countries I doubt you can treat 2500 gallons with $6CDN worth of Prime.

My math is not flawed I am comparing finished liquid product to finished liquid product. ie;prime vs aqua pure + cycle + waste remover(3 product cash cow)

Sorry but I have never heard of thiosulphate except for your post, where does one get it from.

 

[chefjamesscott]

And what about my concern that Prime would "hide" the ammonia rather than removing it? Unfounded?

Jamiya

Personally I used to use other products but I have come to see prime for the top notch product that I have found it to be.

On the few times where I have come across tank emergencies like when a filter had cooked and wiped out and messed up the water chemistry, or other various times when there has been a spike, I have used prime to totally enact emergency fixes in the water chemistry while I got ready to do a massive waterchange. One time I remember is when I came in and 4 of my tanks here were way to hot and upon investigation my thermometers had been tampered with and my tanks were giving off that dead water smell I hit the water with 4x the amount and immediately did massive wc slowly to allow the heat to evap and to use the trickle incoming new water to slowly cool down. I believe that in that case prime was the major factor that helped me save all of my fish. IF I EVER CAUGHT WHO DID THE TWEAKING :duh::irked:.

Personally compared to a product that makes the water go all soapy looking, I will stick with what is a tried and proven true product that does not make me use 3 different liquids to do the one job.

Now if you look at their waste removal liquid, you will notice that it calmly talks about how it will spike ammonia as it goes to work :screwy:. I don't have any of it here or I would quote it off the label for you. So far as I understand ammonia it causes gill burn amongst other things.