This is the response a member of another site I visit got when she asked this question directly to the makers of Prime:
Date: Mon, 20 Feb 2006 12:56:17 -0500
To: xxxxxxxxxxx (by way of Seachem Tech Support)
From: Seachem Tech Support
Subject: Re: Prime Slime Coat/Metals
Hello xxxxx,
I appreciate your concerns and will try to address them below;
Our Prime contains a mild stimulant to assist the fish with production of slime coat. Prime does help the fish "provide a slime coat" by stimulating the fish to do so. We do not use amine based polymers for this purpose as most of our competitors do.
This is quite different from another product in our line called Stress Guard. Stress Guard contains protein active polymers that actively seek out exposed proteins (wounds, abrasions, etc.) for healing purposes.....it can almost be thought of as a liquid bandage. Basically Prime helps to stimulate while our Stress Guard actually coats.
Regarding another statement "..... fish that cannot replenish its slime coat in 24 hours is sick and needs a lot more help than Prime." I completely agree! That is why we do not market Prime as a medication. However we do manufacture a full line of medications if needed.
As for metal precipitation, this was an unintended function of the product. Other dechlorinators use sulfur based reducing salts and the result is similar. So it is listed on the label.... mainly for marketing purposes. But again, I agree that if you have lead or other harmful metals present in your source water a better method of removal if called for. That is why we also offer RO/DI filters for ultimate water purification.
Best Regards,
Seachem Technical Support,rb
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Seachem Laboratories, Inc.
www.seachem.com 888-SEACHEM
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