Does Prime water conditioner affect your water test readings?????

[tonymofo]

I have been noticing that after I do a water change my readings on my nitrite and nitrate seem to get worst. I am currently running an xp3 with a wet dry. I clean all my filters weekly. My wet/dry is filled with ceramic rings and bio balls with a powerhead that shoots bubble at the bioballs and the ceramic rings. I change the filter pad on the drip tray daily.

For example I have a 220 gallon tank with 7 stingrays. 1 12inch, 3 8 inch rays and 3 5-6" rays. I have 1 12" silver arowana, 2 silver dollars and one datnoid in there. I am doing 60% water changes every other day. My nitrate levels are always 80-100ppm if I'm reading it right. But even after a 60-70% water change my nitrite levels have gone way up and my nitrate level are worse than before I changed my water. but after an hour they go back down. My ammonia level is always 0 no matter when I check it. I even went out and bought new test kits to be sure and I even test my tap water. My tap water is nitrite: 0 Nitrate: 0 Ammonia: 0

I even put three packs of that bio spira in after a couple hours of the water change.

I was just wondering if that prime water conditioner affects the test readings in anyway???

 

[tonymofo]

Here's a pic of my setup. I have alot more bags of ceramic rings in the wet dry along with bioballs and pot scrubbies. I also have a 85 gallon tank at the bottom to add more water volume.

 

[ewurm]

I have been noticing that after I do a water change my readings on my nitrite and nitrate seem to get worst. I am currently running an xp3 with a wet dry. I clean all my filters weekly. My wet/dry is filled with ceramic rings and bio balls with a powerhead that shoots bubble at the bioballs and the ceramic rings. I change the filter pad on the drip tray daily.

For example I have a 220 gallon tank with 7 stingrays. 1 12inch, 3 8 inch rays and 3 5-6" rays. I have 1 12" silver arowana, 2 silver dollars and one datnoid in there. I am doing 60% water changes every other day. My nitrate levels are always 80-100ppm if I'm reading it right. But even after a 60-70% water change my nitrite levels have gone way up and my nitrate level are worse than before I changed my water. but after an hour they go back down. My ammonia level is always 0 no matter when I check it. I even went out and bought new test kits to be sure and I even test my tap water. My tap water is nitrite: 0 Nitrate: 0 Ammonia: 0

I even put three packs of that bio spira in after a couple hours of the water change.

I was just wondering if that prime water conditioner affects the test readings in anyway???

If there are chloramines in your water, Prime will neutralize but you will still get a reading on most tests.

 

[tonymofo]

If there are chloramines in your water, Prime will neutralize but you will still get a reading on most tests.

OK, I was just wondering how come the Nitrite level shoots up after a water change. On the days I don't do a water change it is at 0. I even test the tap water of nitrite it's 0. Could the prime be messing with the test kit. (I use the API test kits)

 

[ewurm]

OK, I was just wondering how come the Nitrite level shoots up after a water change. On the days I don't do a water change it is at 0. I even test the tap water of nitrite it's 0. Could the prime be messing with the test kit. (I use the API test kits)

Chloramines in your tap water will increase testable ammonia, which is nutralized by the prime. Theoretically the ammonia would be converted into some form on nitrite, but I haven't heard of readbale nitrite after a water change even with Prime. I'm changing water now, I'll test it.

 

[tonymofo]

Chloramines in your tap water will increase testable ammonia, which is nutralized by the prime. Theoretically the ammonia would be converted into some form on nitrite, but I haven't heard of readbale nitrite after a water change even with Prime. I'm changing water now, I'll test it.

Yeah I heard that before I just couldn't remember if it was true or not. Everything you said makes a whole lot of sense. Let me know if it happens when you do your water tests.......Thanks!!!!!

 

[johnptc]

see seachem website only certain test kits work correctly with prime

 

[tonymofo]

Thanks!!!!

 

[Guapote]

see seachem website only certain test kits work correctly with prime

That seems odd but there it is in print on the website.

I guess its like only using a certain type of gas in a specific car.

 

[Gr8KarmaSF]

Glad the boys covered your question!

I blame the goldfish...lol