API stress coat vs prime

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Shane templar

Shane templar

Plecostomus
MFK Member
Dec 3, 2019
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Bristol uk
Hi everyone
As the title says which one is better! The reason I’m asking is since I’ve had my tank I’ve always used api but now I’ve added more fish and doing bigger water changes it’s not as cost effective! The api has aloe vera in which I understand helps the fishes slime coat which is a plus! I’ve heard somewhere that prime can knock out some denitrifying bacteria in the filter! My nitrates creep up slowly hence why I do a water change every 5 days! Obviously don’t wanna knock the bacteria out and get higher nitrates quicker than I am at the mo! But prime works out better value for money!
many thanks
Shaner
 
I’d use the prime. Prime binds up free ammonia, nitrate and nitrite. It’s still present in the water. Still can be used by bacteria. So it doesn’t kill denitrifying bacteria by starving them or making nitrate unavailable.
 
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Thanks kno4te tbh I was leaning towards the prime! It works out a lot cheaper than the stresscoat I only really considered staying with it because of the added aloe vera and it’s what I’ve been using since the start!
 
Sorry next question does prime go off? I know it’ll last a while but debating wether to get the 2 litre bottle or will go off by the time I’ve used it
 
Shane templar said:
Sorry next question does prime go off? I know it’ll last a while but debating wether to get the 2 litre bottle or will go off by the time I’ve used it
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Meaning expire? Or the effects of prime?
 
Shane templar said:
Sorry next question does prime go off? I know it’ll last a while but debating wether to get the 2 litre bottle or will go off by the time I’ve used it
Click to expand...
Hello; You have a choice is that PRIME has a sister product called SAFE. One is a liquid as purchased and is reported to have an additive which keeps it stable over time.
The other is sold in powder form which has the advantage of being much more cost effective. I use to know the numbers about the difference but memory on the specifics fails just now. Anyway the savings is significant with the powder. The drawbacks are two. One is there is some difficulty is dosing the powder for some folks with smaller tanks as very small amounts are needed. The other is once mixed the powder form is only stable for a while. Around three weeks is what I recall reading.
PRIME and SAFE are the same stuff from the same company. One is liquid (PRIME I think). The other is powder (SAFE I think) Seems clear to me the powder form will save you money over time.

One more thing. This topic has been covered many times here. My guess is you can find lots of info with a search. I do believe there is an even less expensive water treatment additive than the SAFE you can buy in bulk but I have not used it myself and hesitate to try to name it.

Good luck
 
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Since the subject of cost came up I will just mention that API has another product that I have used for years up until recently,Tapwater Conditioner.It is cheap to use as it only requires one drop per gallon.
That said,for reasons previously mentioned, the last few months I have become a Prime convert.
 
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I would go with seachem as well, if your tank is small then prime or else safe. For fish coat stressguard is another great product from seachem.
 
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