high ammonia in a cycled tank,,,
- Thread starter Wenzo0o0o0oo
- Start date
Here is what SeaChem said:
Prime will break the bond between the chlorine, neutralize the chlorine, and create ammonia. The Prime will then bind to the ammonia and render it non-toxic. However, a standard API salicylate-based ammonia kit cannot distinguish between the free and bound ammonia so you continue to get a reading for ammonia.
http://www.seachem.net/support/forums/showthread.php?p=7042
Free ammonia refers to NH3 as a gas, and bound ammonia refers to NH4+ or ionized ammonium. Only free ammonia is toxic to fish.
Prime will break the bond between the chlorine, neutralize the chlorine, and create ammonia. The Prime will then bind to the ammonia and render it non-toxic. However, a standard API salicylate-based ammonia kit cannot distinguish between the free and bound ammonia so you continue to get a reading for ammonia.
http://www.seachem.net/support/forums/showthread.php?p=7042
Free ammonia refers to NH3 as a gas, and bound ammonia refers to NH4+ or ionized ammonium. Only free ammonia is toxic to fish.
First off, that would only represent what takes place IF the OP's tap water contains chloramine. Secondly the action of reduction by Prime does not "create" anything, it simply breaks the chlorine/ammonia bond. That was a poor choice of words by the Seachem rep. The ammonia was always present in the disinfectant. (in chloramine treated tap water) In chlorine treated tap water there will be no ammonia present, at least not from the (chlorine) disinfectant.
Once again .........
Prime is a reducing agent, and it removes chlorine by converting (reducing) it to harmless chloride. Chloramine is removed by breaking the chlorine/ammonia bond, the chlorine is then reduced to chloride and the ammonia is then bound until it is utilized by the bio-bacteria in your biological filters. Unless you raise your tank water to pH 12 or higher it will not release the ammonia back into solution.
These are simple facts that no one at Seachem is going to refute.
But considering that the OP stated:
..... which means that the Prime that he used a "week ago" would have nothing to do with his current reading of ammonia. This is NOT a false reading.
Once again .........
Prime is a reducing agent, and it removes chlorine by converting (reducing) it to harmless chloride. Chloramine is removed by breaking the chlorine/ammonia bond, the chlorine is then reduced to chloride and the ammonia is then bound until it is utilized by the bio-bacteria in your biological filters. Unless you raise your tank water to pH 12 or higher it will not release the ammonia back into solution.
These are simple facts that no one at Seachem is going to refute.
But considering that the OP stated:
..... which means that the Prime that he used a "week ago" would have nothing to do with his current reading of ammonia. This is NOT a false reading.
not so much with chlorine but ammonia. as ammonia does not gas out, lets say you have 2.0 ppm ammonia in a tank of water, none cycled not a fish tank, just a tank of water. prime/safe good for 48 hours, is that 2ppm ammonia still safe say 56 hours later? or 80?
What happens after that depends on a number of factors, including the level of organics in the water, 02 levels, etc, and eventually it breaks down and is no longer effective.
Prime contains hydrosulphide salts, which is a reducing agent. That's why it reacts with chlorine compounds, which are oxidising agents. This is also why it will neutralize bleach after one sanitizes their tank. If there are no chlorine compounds left in the aquarium water it will find something else to reduce such as 02 (oxygen).
Personally my only real concern is what my disinfectant is (chlorine or chloramine), at what level ppm or mg/l (same thing) so I can determine what level of conditioner (Seachem Safe) I need to render my tap water safe for my fish.
Prime contains hydrosulphide salts, which is a reducing agent. That's why it reacts with chlorine compounds, which are oxidising agents. This is also why it will neutralize bleach after one sanitizes their tank. If there are no chlorine compounds left in the aquarium water it will find something else to reduce such as 02 (oxygen).
Personally my only real concern is what my disinfectant is (chlorine or chloramine), at what level ppm or mg/l (same thing) so I can determine what level of conditioner (Seachem Safe) I need to render my tap water safe for my fish.
With a Ph level of 6 ammonia will not be as toxic so that's a little good news. Increase water changes and clean the filter. The root cause is the issue what caused the tank to become uncycled i only skimmed the tread so i may have missed it.
I understand we mostly use for tap water treatment, but can also be used when doing a in tank cycle, not Ideal but we all know it happens. but with all things being = if i have a 50g of water with 2.0 ppm ammonia (single dose of prime/safe treats up to 2.0ppm) what happens after that 48 hour window is done?. the ammonia is still there. would that 2.0 ppm ammonia still be safe for the fish?
