Seachem has a new water conditioner that's "better" than Prime

[epond83]

safae seems like a good way to go. Where would you sugest to buy it online? Seams hard to find.

 

[RD.]

I bought mine here when it was on sale, but it appears they are currently out of stock, at least according to their website.
http://www.customaquatic.com/estore/control/product/~product=AD-SC389

This site has one of the lowest prices you will probably find online for Seachem Safe.

http://www.igopro-online.com/default.asp

 

[aclockworkorange]

Okay so color me confused, what's the big stink over Alpha?

Seachem Safe is by far the most cost effective water conditioner that Seachem makes. The only reason that few people know about it is very few LFS carry it.

This is just an information thread about the product since myself and apparently other people didn't even know it existed.

 

[RD.]

This is just an information thread about the product since myself and apparently other people didn't even know it existed.

No worries, most hobbyists don't realize that Safe exists either.

Seeing as this discussion seems to be primarily about how much savings one can glean from one product over another, I felt that I might as well set the record straight, when purchased in bulk Seachem Safe beats both hands down.

 

[T1KARMANN]

if its not broke no need to fix it

prime worked for me so i wont be changing whats the point

 

[HarleyK]

Howdy,

We always need to think "does it make sense?"!

EPA drinking water limit for chloramine is 4 ppm (mg/L) as chlorine, makes 5.8 ppm chloramine (if all Cl is NH2Cl). The actual levels differ by municipality, my water company reports 0.7 ppm. You generally don't, in addition to chloramine, have to worry about ammonia in tap water if it's chlorinated, because ammonia forms chloramine when reacting with chlorine. Thus, irrelevant for routine water changes. EPA chlorine levels are 4ppm, thus, Alpha is massive overkill.

All in ll, I see no reason to move away from my water conditioner, Kent Dechlorinator. Not only have I found it to perform as well as Prime, I doesn't stink

5mLs of Prime treats:
-50 gallons of water
-1 mg/L ammonia
-4 mg/L chloramine
-5 mg/L chlorine

5mLs of Alpha treats:
-75 gallons of water
-4 mg/L ammonia
-6 mg/L chloramine
-16.5 mg/L chlorine

HarleyK

 

[RD.]

if its not broke no need to fix it

That's probably something that a caveman once grunted too. lol

The point is that there are other water conditioners out there that are just as effective as Prime, and a few that are far more concentrated/effective, that cost far less. The beauty of some of these products is they are actually made by the same manufacturer. (Seachem)

Who doesn't want to save some $$$ when & where they can?

 

[RD.]

EPA drinking water limit for chloramine is 4 ppm (mg/L) as chlorine, makes 5.8 ppm chloramine. The actual levels differ by municipality, my water company reports 0.7 ppm. We generally don't in addition have to worry about ammonia in our tap water if it's chlorinated, because that ammonia forms chloramine. Thus, irrelevant for routine water changes. EPA chlorine levels are 4ppm, thus, Alpha is massive overkill.

Say what? You might want to read the following discussion then come back & explain to someone who's water is treated with chloramine how a more concentrated water conditioner such as Prime, Alpha, or Safe is massive overkill.
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=309623

I've been dealing with chloramine for the past 15 yrs, and what type of water conditioner, and how much you use, can make a world of difference to both ones fish, and ones wallet.

 

[RD.]

Harley,

Kent does not treat the same amount of tap water as Seachem Prime, as you suggested in the link below.
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?p=3807875


From the Kent website:

Shake well before using. Add 5ml (1 tsp) per 50 gallons of tap or aquarium water. Will remove up to 2 ppm of chlorine/chloramine at this dosage.

From the Seachem website:

Use 1 capful (5 mL) for each 200 L (50 gallons*) of new water. This removes approximately 1 mg/L ammonia, 4 mg/L chloramine, or 5 mg/L chlorine.

For those who don't already know this: 1ppm = 1 mg/l

This is classic example of why one needs to know exactly what they are treating for, before they begin comparing dosage rates, and overall cost.

You can't simply use the "one capful for 50 gallons" for all applications, or you could be using twice as much water conditioner required, or half as much, or anywhere in between. Using your .7ppm example, one capful of either product would indeed be massive overkill. In your case Kent Pro performs as well as Prime because if you are going by "one capful treats 5o gallons" you are using over double the amount of Kent water conditioner required.

Using my local water as an example (2ppm chloramine), 1 capful of Kent would indeed treat 50 gallons, but 1 capful of Prime would treat 100 gallons. If both products cost approx the same, guess which one I'm going to be using?

Some of us here treat 100's of gallons a week, some thousands, and over the years these costs add up.

 

[HarleyK]

Howdy,

Sorry if I wasn't clear with my post. I thought "The actual levels differ by municipality" was self-explanatory. Sorry you're having more trouble with chloramines.

As stated, for me and probably many others and for those whose chlorine levels are regulated under EPA, there is (3-fold) overkill if dosed as instructed, and that statement is clearly made in the context of chlorine.

I don't think we're saying much different stuff, it's just not synchronized...and Kent still doesn't stink

HarleyK