Is it safe to add prime to a tank with fry ?

[Mofo fish]

I use a dechlorinator whenever adding chlorinated (chloraminated) water to any tank, fry or not.
I would not bother if using rain water, or unchlorinated well water)
With the dose measured to treat the amount of water added.
All dechlorinaters main ingredient is a salt called sodium thiosulfate, or calcium thiosulphate)
Most often sodium thiosulfate because its less expensive.
To be realistic, if the tiny amount used (in comparison to the volume of water in the tank) kills a few fry, they probably were too weak to make it anyway.

I do not however just top off fry tanks.
I do the regular water changes I would normally do on tanks, fry or not (am just a bit more careful with temp, and siphoning).

Thank you ! I feel a lot calmer now lol. My main reason for the top off was I was worried about syphoning up a few fry but I guess I’ll just be extra careful and do a regular water change ?. Thank you so much again !

 

[duanes]

Also consider that 90-95% of new world cichlids are better at raising fry than you and I are and it’s often better to just let them do it with your assistance in the form of adding fry food with a baster or dropper for the first few weeks.

Totally agree
and if a parent does off one or three of its fry, that parent may instinctually know that that/those individual(s) was somehow compromised and needed to be culled before it used resources needed by healthy fry.

And if worried about siphoning fry, use a jug to take old water from the surface.

 

[Mofo fish]

The only issue you’d run into with prime is it using up the available O2 innthe water column if you overdose.

I routinely do 10-20 percent water changes on fry tanks without adding anything dechlorinating. And do 30 percent on adult fish But I also have a significant amount of organic material in my tanks which immediately neutralizes the chlorine anyway. I honestly do not have anything to treat my tap water with. I have no prime, stresscoat etc.

the issue you’re going to run into in your new ten gallon fry tank is that it will be very very “sensitive” easy to foul, easy to crash becuase it’s new. Old water from an old tank doesn’t help- it’s only value is on the Lawn or garden. Old filter media can / does help. But even then it doesn’t replace the host of organisms growing on the glass and substrate of a mature tank.
Also consider that 90-95% of new world cichlids are better at raising fry than you and I are and it’s often better to just let them do it with your assistance in the form of adding fry food with a baster or dropper for the first few weeks.

Wow thank you for the awesome advice!im going to leave them be then for now. I’ll set up the 10 gallon and let it cycle with some old media and move some over when they’re bigger ? thank you again !

 

[Mofo fish]

Totally agree
and if a parent does off one or three of its fry, that parent may instinctually know that that/those individual(s) was somehow compromised and needed to be culled before it used resources needed by healthy fry.

And if worried about siphoning fry, use a jug to take old water from the surface.

Will do , so grateful for this community and all the advice. Can’t wait to come back later and show you all a batch of healthy fry !

 

[RD.]

The only issue you’d run into with prime is it using up the available O2 innthe water column if you overdose.

I routinely do 10-20 percent water changes on fry tanks without adding anything dechlorinating. And do 30 percent on adult fish But I also have a significant amount of organic material in my tanks which immediately neutralizes the chlorine anyway. I honestly do not have anything to treat my tap water with. I have no prime, stresscoat etc.

the issue you’re going to run into in your new ten gallon fry tank is that it will be very very “sensitive” easy to foul, easy to crash becuase it’s new. Old water from an old tank doesn’t help- it’s only value is on the Lawn or garden. Old filter media can / does help. But even then it doesn’t replace the host of organisms growing on the glass and substrate of a mature tank.
Also consider that 90-95% of new world cichlids are better at raising fry than you and I are and it’s often better to just let them do it with your assistance in the form of adding fry food with a baster or dropper for the first few weeks.

Please keep in mind that IF you have chloramine treated tap water, especially at higher levels, the info above could prove to be fatal to your fry. I have used Prime with fry in the past, as well as Seachem Safe, and never had any issue with newborn fry. (80%+ water changes) Having said I also understand my local water parameters out of the tap very well. festae are pretty tough fish, good luck.

 

[dogofwar]

All of my tanks are on a drip system (i.e. water drips into the tanks and excess overflows down the drain and into my garden). I add a pinch of Chloram-X (I don't use Prime or Safe) to tanks prior to starting the drip system on both fry only tanks but also tanks with parents and fry.

 

[C. Breeze]

Please keep in mind that IF you have chloramine treated tap water, especially at higher levels, the info above could prove to be fatal to your fry. I have used Prime with fry in the past, as well as Seachem Safe, and never had any issue with newborn fry. (80%+ water changes) Having said I also understand my local water parameters out of the tap very well. festae are pretty tough fish, good luck.

What he says is true.
My municipality uses chlorine only in the water^^^^^ and if the case was otherwise I would be pretreating all my water either with plants or RO,

 

[Mofo fish]

Please keep in mind that IF you have chloramine treated tap water, especially at higher levels, the info above could prove to be fatal to your fry. I have used Prime with fry in the past, as well as Seachem Safe, and never had any issue with newborn fry. (80%+ water changes) Having said I also understand my local water parameters out of the tap very well. festae are pretty tough fish, good luck.

I used prime and everyone seems to be doing fine, I will check on them in the morning but them seem to have not skipped a beat ?