For those using Safe, where to find tiny little measuring spoon??
- Thread starter Jer
- Start date
I'm not worried about overdosing because I don't have Chloramines and am only treating for Chlorine so the dose will be lower anyway. My reason for wanting a way to get the actual needed amount is simply for cost savings. What's the point of saving money buying Safe and then using enough to make it cost the same or more per treatment as Prime? I realize I can go over by a bit but since this is something I plan to do a couple times a week for years to come I would prefer spend a couple bucks now to have a measuring device that takes away the guess work. I'll check a kitchen store or Bed, Bath & Beyond or something.
No, I don't have kids. Tell me how you measure a powder in a dropper. I'm curious to know how having kids allows you to do this.
You guys/gals must not have kids, or they don't get sick
I have three kids so it's very frequent that I have to use the cups or droppers that come with bottled children/infant over-the-counter medicines. Or just go to any pharmacy store and ask for a dropper; it's free btw. It has 1/8 of a tsp measurement intervals.
No, I don't have kids. Tell me how you measure a powder in a dropper. I'm curious to know how having kids allows you to do this.
Well, my aquarium is a 75gal but the 1/8th tsp was based on the water being replaced. The instructions say very specifically to treat the amount of water 'being replaced' and not total volume. So you're already overdosing. Couple that with guessing at measurements and you could be wasting a lot of conditioner that you don't need to waste. This is why I'm trying to find out a closer measurement so I don't have lots of waste over the years. I'm not worried about over conditioning the tank since Prime and Safe both are pretty tolerable to the fish from my research. This is more from an economical standpoint and I just don't want to be wasteful since there's no benefit to over treating.
From Seachem's website
Safe
Product Description
Safe™ is the complete and concentrated dry conditioner for both fresh and salt water. Safe™ removes chlorine, chloramine and ammonia. Safe™ converts ammonia into a safe, non-toxic form that is readily removed by the tank’s biofilter. Safe™ may be used during tank cycling to alleviate ammonia/nitrite toxicity. Safe™ detoxifies nitrite and nitrate, allowing the biofilter to more efficiently remove them. Safe™ is non-acidic and will not impact pH. Safe™ will not overactivate skimmers. Use at start-up and whenever adding or replacing water.
Sizes: 10 g, 50 g, 250 g, 1 kg, 4 kg
Why It's Different
Safe™ is the dry version of Prime® and shares all of it’s advantages; however, Safe™ is even more concentrated than Prime®.
Directions
Directions for 10 g and 50 g
To remove…
Chlorine: use 1 measure to each 130 L (35 gallons*) of tap water (removes 1 ppm)..
Chloramine: use 1 measure to each 100 L (25 gallons*) of tap water (removes 1 ppm).
Ammonia: use 1 measure to each 32 L (8 gallons*) of tap water (removes 1 ppm). Do not overdose! For reference, 1 measure = 100 mg. To detoxify nitrite/nitrate in an emergency situation use up to 5 measures to each 40 L (10 gallons). Use fish to gauge toxicity reduction as test kits will still show presence of nitrite/nitrate even when detoxified. May be added to aquarium directly, but is better if added to new water first. If adding directly to aquarium, base dose on aquarium volume. If temperature is > 30 C (86 F) cut dosing in half.
Safe
Product Description
Safe™ is the complete and concentrated dry conditioner for both fresh and salt water. Safe™ removes chlorine, chloramine and ammonia. Safe™ converts ammonia into a safe, non-toxic form that is readily removed by the tank’s biofilter. Safe™ may be used during tank cycling to alleviate ammonia/nitrite toxicity. Safe™ detoxifies nitrite and nitrate, allowing the biofilter to more efficiently remove them. Safe™ is non-acidic and will not impact pH. Safe™ will not overactivate skimmers. Use at start-up and whenever adding or replacing water.
Sizes: 10 g, 50 g, 250 g, 1 kg, 4 kg
Why It's Different
Safe™ is the dry version of Prime® and shares all of it’s advantages; however, Safe™ is even more concentrated than Prime®.
Directions
Directions for 10 g and 50 g
To remove…
From Seachem's website
Safe
Product Description
Safe™ is the complete and concentrated dry conditioner for both fresh and salt water. Safe™ removes chlorine, chloramine and ammonia. Safe™ converts ammonia into a safe, non-toxic form that is readily removed by the tank’s biofilter. Safe™ may be used during tank cycling to alleviate ammonia/nitrite toxicity. Safe™ detoxifies nitrite and nitrate, allowing the biofilter to more efficiently remove them. Safe™ is non-acidic and will not impact pH. Safe™ will not overactivate skimmers. Use at start-up and whenever adding or replacing water.
Sizes: 10 g, 50 g, 250 g, 1 kg, 4 kg
Why It's Different
Safe™ is the dry version of Prime® and shares all of it’s advantages; however, Safe™ is even more concentrated than Prime®.
Directions
Directions for 10 g and 50 g
To remove…
Chlorine: use 1 measure to each 130 L (35 gallons*) of tap water (removes 1 ppm)..
Chloramine: use 1 measure to each 100 L (25 gallons*) of tap water (removes 1 ppm).
Ammonia: use 1 measure to each 32 L (8 gallons*) of tap water (removes 1 ppm). Do not overdose! For reference, 1 measure = 100 mg. To detoxify nitrite/nitrate in an emergency situation use up to 5 measures to each 40 L (10 gallons). Use fish to gauge toxicity reduction as test kits will still show presence of nitrite/nitrate even when detoxified. May be added to aquarium directly, but is better if added to new water first. If adding directly to aquarium, base dose on aquarium volume. If temperature is > 30 C (86 F) cut dosing in half.
That's interesting because the labels say specifically:
Prime: '...for new water...'
Safe: '...for tap water..'
Both of these would lead me to believe that you measure for the amount of water being replaced as opposed to total volume of aquarium. It's frustrating because Seachem needs to get their $4!t together because if you read their website, forum and labels they ALL say something different and they're all conflicting. The more you try to research these products to learn proper use and application the more you are confused by the 'facts' when they all say something different.
See what I mean about how it would be easy to be using WAY too much of this stuff and wasting it? The difference between "one measure" being 1/8tsp or 1/4tsp and then based off of replaced water or total volume are two TOTALLY different amounts. Then add in the differences of treating for chlorine or chloramines and you are talking significant differences in dose from one user to the next. This is why I'm confused and trying to find answers as well as actual measurements instead of all this guessing. If you guess you're either not treating enough or treating too much which is wasteful & would like to know the ACTUAL exact amount because that's the type of person I am. It amazes me that this information is so difficult to find.
That's another problem because I have a digital scale but I can't weigh amounts low enough to be able to dose 40-75gal.
I've always used the amount based on volume I'm replacing with no adverse effects. I have a pretty clean water supply too though, so that could have an effect. I usually only really eye mine because I'm also guessing on the volume of water I'm changing. It's always roughly 150 gallons or so. I'm sure I'm using a little bit more than maybe I should if I were to measure everything, but i doubt it would amount to more than a dollar or two a year, based on 500 gallons or so.
A kilo of safe treats 200,000 gallons and is about $30 online. Doing 50% water changes on my tanks would mean Id get 800 changes out of it or basically 15 years worth of water changes. So water conditioner costs me $2 a year.........if I eye it heavy I'll spend $3.
Just my 2c.
A kilo of safe treats 200,000 gallons and is about $30 online. Doing 50% water changes on my tanks would mean Id get 800 changes out of it or basically 15 years worth of water changes. So water conditioner costs me $2 a year.........if I eye it heavy I'll spend $3.
Just my 2c.
That's a good point as far as the money goes. I'm worried more about the amount of chemicals in my aquarium as I like to keep the variables as low as possible. I'm sure it won't hurt the fish but if I start ending up with sick fish I don't want to be questioning the amount of Prime/Safe I've been using, ya know? I want to know that it's the exact right dosage and be able to rule it out w/o ever even needing to think about it. In short, I'm particular and don't like guessing at things.
Totally understand^^.
and probably part of the reason I always base dosing on water change volume and not tank volume. If I know it's not in there in the first place, what's the point of removing it, especially if your water supply is good, which I'm lucky in that aspect. I think that's a marketing strategy myself. Kinda like when the manufacturers tells you to replace your bio every 6 months......
My wife has a kitchen set that go down to 1/4 tsp. You could measure half of that. Pretty sure she got hers at Target
and probably part of the reason I always base dosing on water change volume and not tank volume. If I know it's not in there in the first place, what's the point of removing it, especially if your water supply is good, which I'm lucky in that aspect. I think that's a marketing strategy myself. Kinda like when the manufacturers tells you to replace your bio every 6 months......
My wife has a kitchen set that go down to 1/4 tsp. You could measure half of that. Pretty sure she got hers at Target
