Cost Effective Water Conditioners

[HUKIT]

Nope, I wouldn’t believe 95% of what’s posted on that website.

 

[phreeflow]

Any validity to this? https://aquariumscience.org/5-5-3-2-prime-and-safe/

Which part? At first, it seemed like a bunch of baseless claims but when I clicked on the blue hyperlinks, seems he outlines some of his methodology and lab tests.

It’s too long so I only skimmed a bit but a lot of these types of rants usually end up with a suggestion to simply use sodium thiosulfate and save money.

Thinking back to when DeChlor, in the bluish-green bottles, was the only water conditioner sold at the LFS, he might have a point since i never had an issue using that stuff and it was just sodium thiosulfate.

Flash forward decades and now I only use Prime, and I’m not sure why or how I got here. Was just told it’s better and safer but truth be told, DeChlor always worked fine.

 

[RD.]

Any validity to this? https://aquariumscience.org/5-5-3-2-prime-and-safe/

For those who don't understand the process, or have new set ups where the tanks bio is not fully mature, and/or the pH is high, and/or they keep their fish in warmer water, and/or they don't have tanks full of plants, or your local water supply uses higher levels of chloramine during certain times of the year, there is a caveat to what Duane posted.


Exposing fish to NH3, free ammonia, is like exposing an infant to second hand smoke. There is no "good" amount or value, to a fish.

NH3 (free ammonia) is toxic, to all fish, even small amounts of NH3, and even for short durations. The higher the pH of the tap water, as well as the higher the water temp, the more toxic it becomes. A good article on that subject can be found on the Krib.

https://www.thekrib.com/Chemistry/ammonia-toxicity.html



HTH

There are bits and pieces of what is posted on that site that is true, but IMO those facts are mixed in with nonsensical hyperbole. A LOT of it.

While Seachem doesn’t remove free ammonia (NH3) it does render it harmless to a fish. Certainly millions of hobbyists can get by using only sodium thiosulfate, millions of others cannot, at least not without subjecting their fish to ammonia, even if it is in small doses, over brief periods. Anyone who thinks that is ok, should probably take up a new hobby.

 

[RD.]

Just in case anyone missed this in the quote…….

Ammonia Toxicity to Freshwater Fish

 

[phreeflow]

Just in case anyone missed this in the quote…….

Ammonia Toxicity to Freshwater Fish

That’s helpful.

Well, I guess back in the old days when folks were told to do not more than 10-20% monthly water changes along with DeChlor, the filter probably took quick care of the ammonia released from chloramines.

Now that people are doing larger and more frequent water changes, Prime’s ability to render ammonia harmless for a couple days for the filter to do its job makes sense.

I find Prime invaluable when receiving fish in the mail and quickly detoxifying the ammonia when opening the bags

 

[RD.]

Yes, and 50 yrs ago not many municipalities were using chloramine to treat the local water supply. Today, it’s become quite common.

Back in the old days, most hobbyists also cycled their new tanks, with their new fish. For many fish, that didn’t work out so well. For the ones that survived the burn, it probably had a long term effect on their overall health, and longevity.