Allergy / Sneezing from Prime Water Conditioner?

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daveman12345

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jul 17, 2008
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Hi everyone,

I've been using API water conditioner for years without any issue. Over the last two months, I've been using Prime. I noticed a strong scent from Prime the moment I opened it. I notice that my sister and I, who both live in a small apartment, are sneezy a lot and having a lot of allergy-related issues. I've had a large fish tank for 2 years and no issues until recently (110 gallon).

I wonder, is it due to the Prime? I know water is evaporating into the air, so I wonder if the conditioner is sending stuff into the air? Has anyone ever had a similar experience?

Please help.
 
I've used a lot of chemicals in tanks and haven't suffered any ill effects. Not saying it's impossible but I doubt it's the prime. Maybe it's mold?
 
I did spill some water on my carpet that I usually quickly clean with a towel. Can it be under the carpet that seeped through? Is there a spray for the carpet as a precaution, or to get rid of it if it's there? My room does have a musty smell that I know wasn't around 6 months ago so I guess it could be one of the two.
 
Mutsy smell is no good. Some mold is really toxic and can definitely cause allergy like symptoms. Google something like house mold and see what I mean. When you have fish tanks, you have a heated, humid room where you occasionally spill water, it's the perfect environment for mold to grow.
 
aclockworkorange;4833581; said:
Mutsy smell is no good. Some mold is really toxic and can definitely cause allergy like symptoms. Google something like house mold and see what I mean. When you have fish tanks, you have a heated, humid room where you occasionally spill water, it's the perfect environment for mold to grow.
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That's a cause for concern. Have you ever had this issue? I'm going to ask my landlord to do a carpet cleaning.
 
You should really google house mold and read more about it. I've never had this issue but I always live in places with hardwood floors and vent my rooms pretty well. I've definitely heard of it happening, and some LFS's smell musty from the parking lot around here! I'm sure there are huge colonies of super mold growing underneath them.
 
Yes, I think it's mold. It's weird because I've had my fish tank here for 2 years and haven't ever had this issue. Within the last two weeks, my allergies have started to build up where I sneeze once every 1-2 hours and my nose clogs up.

At this point, I almost want to part out my fish tank if it causes health issues. I googled around and did read of cleaning the carpet with different things like baking soda. Will this really make a difference? It sounds like it'll eventually come back.
 
Depends on the mold and the extent of the infestation, assuming you do really have mold. I wouldn't necessarily blame the fish tank completely, sorry to say it could also be other factors. The mold could very well have just started growing recently regardless of how long the tank has been up.
The only real way to destroy mold is to demo it. Ive heard of black mold infestations where people have literally burnt their house down to get rid of it. There are mold test kits online.
 
Mold is VERY dangerous. It can be toxic and make you sick.
 
the only real way to know if it is the prime is to put your nose to the bottle and take the deepest whiff of it your lungs will possibly hold :grinno:.

I remember a story of another fish keeper who was taking a bottle of prime with them and at the airport the inspector opened the bottle broke the seal and took a smell :ROFL:
 
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