How long does prime stay "active" in dechlorinated water?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Well, I have to admit that I don't know exacty what they use in Prime, but I DO KNOW that it contains sulfur and it also claims to be able to bind and detoxify ammonia and nitrite. Based upon that information, the key chemical constituent of Prime probably has two reactive centers:
  • A carbon which reacts with the nitrogen found in ammonia and nitrite.
  • A sulfur that reacts with the chlorine in Cl2 and chloramine.
When the carbon reacts with an ammonia molecule, a water molecule is split off and the ammonia becomes locked into a larger, non-toxic molecule that is eventually metabolized by the bacteria. If the sulfur reacts with a chloramine, [NaCl + ammonia] are formed and the free ammonia then reacts with the carbon, as previously described. I may not have hit it dead-on, but it probably works something like that. So how long does Prime last after it is added to the tank? I would guess that even unreacted Prime can be metabolized by the bacteria. So, when the pump is turned back on after the wc, both complexed and unreacted Prime molecules probably go to the filter and are meabolized by the bacteria. These bacteria are referred to as "facultative" and basically, that means that if they see something containing a carbon, they find a way to eat it. Of course, the aquarium contains many things which contain nitrogen, but the three key reactants would be: chloramine, ammonia and nitrite. Personally, I'm curious about what happens to the sulfur. I should look into that one of thee days.
 
Thanks brian! Always to the rescue with my chem questions.

Should I contact seachem about the sulfur? Its strictly educational clearly prime works and many people dose for the whole tank and are fine. I am just curious...
 
I know that a lot of sulfur is in well water and a air stone can help remove it. As far as it dissipating or precipitating I am not sure. I would guess it maked sulfur dioxide and is gassed off.
 
ward1066;3061989; said:
I know that a lot of sulfur is in well water and a air stone can help remove it. As far as it dissipating or precipitating I am not sure. I would guess it maked sulfur dioxide and is gassed off.
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True , I got a ton of water movement in my 90 (1000 GPH) And an airstone maybe it dissipates it somehow.
 
tcarswell;3061981; said:
Thanks brian! Always to the rescue with my chem questions.

Should I contact seachem about the sulfur? Its strictly educational clearly prime works and many people dose for the whole tank and are fine. I am just curious...
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Yes, would you please contact them and let us know what happens to the sulfur? There are sulfur-fixing bacteria which convert sulfur to hydrogen sulfide gas, but I thought they were anaerobic. Wish I knew more about this.

Thanks
 
I will contact them at 8am and get back to you in this thread and a PM. Thanks for the help man. Some people just don't understand when you want to know more than whether something works or not and you want to know how. You seem to know the answers I appreciate it!
 
waterPOLO;3062927; said:
This is an interesting read. I bought Amquel+ last time...is it basically the same thing as Prime?
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similiar, more expensive, not as concentrated. Don't think it does the protective slime coat thing.
 
If you want to use the Amquel brand, if you're running a planted tank use NovAqua. Novaqua doesn't work on Nitrates, and most tap water contains chloramine, which is chlorine bonded to nitrate. As you want Nitrates for your plants, you can prevent wrecking your fert regime.

In Prime the actives are Bisulfites and hydrosulfites, meaning, most likely HSO3 and NaSO3. Meaning it's an oxygen reduction reaction (hence the aeration warning). HSO3 would become H2SO2 and NaSO3 would become NaCl, H2O and H2SO2. This leaves NO3 (Nitrate) and some Hydrosulferous acid (H2SO2, pH 6.67), which is why they add buffer to the system. Prime is a pH of 8.2 on average due to the CaCO3 (baking soda) included in the dose.

So there you have it. There's more chemistry afterwards for the Sulferous acid reduction but I don't want to bore the hell out of you all.
 
velanarris;3063282; said:
If you want to use the Amquel brand, if you're running a planted tank use NovAqua. Novaqua doesn't work on Nitrates, and most tap water contains chloramine, which is chlorine bonded to nitrate. As you want Nitrates for your plants, you can prevent wrecking your fert regime.

In Prime the actives are Bisulfites and hydrosulfites, meaning, most likely HSO3 and NaSO3. Meaning it's an oxygen reduction reaction (hence the aeration warning). HSO3 would become H2SO2 and NaSO3 would become NaCl, H2O and H2SO2. This leaves NO3 (Nitrate) and some Hydrosulferous acid (H2SO2, pH 6.67), which is why they add buffer to the system. Prime is a pH of 8.2 on average due to the CaCO3 (baking soda) included in the dose.

So there you have it. There's more chemistry afterwards for the Sulferous acid reduction but I don't want to bore the hell out of you all.
Click to expand...
Chloramine is chlorine and ammonia I thought...

On the phone tree of Seachem right now.
 
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