Am I overdoing it on the water chemicals?

[Cichlaholics Anonymous]

I just use prime, and I'd use it over other dechlorinators because the doses are good, you don't need a whole lot when doing WC's on large/multiple tanks

 

[jcardona1]

i use Seachem Prime and nothing else. its the only chemical that goes in my tank - EVER

 

[pcfriedrich]

Pufferpunk, you use it, but are telling me its crap and to stop wasting my $$$?

I don't get it.

 

[Pufferpunk]

i use Seachem Prime and nothing else. its the only chemical that goes in my tank - EVER

I was talking about Amquell+. The only med I use is Melafix & that's on a rare occassion.

 

[Pufferpunk]

sounds pretty similar to prime, which also removes ammonia, by the way.

It does not remove ammonia but does detoxify it & it can still be used by the bacteria for food..

 

[pcfriedrich]

It does not remove ammonia but does detoxify it & it can still be used by the bacteria for food..

semantics...

you still told me it was a waste of money.

 

[Pufferpunk]

I just re-read the directions on Bio-Spira (the exact same bacteria in our established tanks), which warns not to use ammonia-removing products. I'm sorry, I thought Amquel was one of them:

Ammonia-removing products like Ammo-Lock and Bio-Safe, which will give the bacteria of Bio-Spira nothing to feed on, must be avoided. However, water conditioners such as AmQuel®, Prime™ and Ammonia Detox may still used and should be used if you have to neutralize chloramines in your tap water.

Still, neither Prime nor Amquel is really necessary--plain ole cheap Dechlor is all we need.

 

[pcfriedrich]

I just reiread the directions on Bio-Spira, which warns not to use ammonia-removing products. I'm sorry, I thought Amquel was one of them:

its cool, man. you had me doubting myself, though...

it does say it "removes" amonia on the amquel+ label, but only like 1.3 ppm. it does say on the label it is safe, and "won't interfere with biological cycle, or harm biological filter beds, or interfere with their activity".

I've always just used stress coat, until the guy at my lfs recommended amquel+. they don't carry prime, but that's what I'm gonna buy next. prime is more concentrated, and cheaper. I have a sneaking suspicion they both use the same active ingredients; first time I used it, I couldn't figure out where my horrible B.O. came from!

 

[Pufferpunk]

Now about Stresscoat. It IMO isn't worth the extra $$$ to add aloe to your tank. This has been proven to do nothing for a fish. (I wish I knew where to find that one... I'll kook after work.)

 

[pcfriedrich]

Now about Stresscoat. It IMO isn't worth the extra $$$ to add aloe to your tank. This has been proven to be a waste of $$$.

I used to use it. but now, I only use it after my fish get sunburn!