what are the uses for prime?
- Thread starter stevenrox
- Start date
I swear by prime, don't do a water change without it. I find it doesn't stress the fish so much, it helps keep ammonia and nitrates down and it does something benificial to there slime coat, not sure what but i've never had a problem with it.
It does not affect nitrates, but it may mask them from our test kits. Just like amquel+, it di not lower the amounto f nitrates, but it just makes them undetectable to hobbyist test kits. Studies showed that although amquel make nitrates appear lower on the test kits, the spectroscopic exam showed that they were still there.mouse79;2882805; said:
Unless it has cloveoil, then it is not going to stress the fish less.
See slime coat below.
The fish are the ones with the slime coat, and fish make plenty of it on their own. For some reason people think that we need to make the fish make more slime coat, but they make the perfect amount of their own.tcarswell;2882891; said:
Another thing that people do not recognize is the fact that any product that claims to help the fish make a better slime coat (which are all unnecessary and crap, AKA waste of money) is really putting something into the water that aggravates the fish's skin. In response, the fish's brain tells the body to make more slime coat. So using products (like stress coat) to irritate the fish's skin, so that they make more slime coat that they DO NOT NEED makes absolutely no sense.
Dechlors are not packed with filler, they are just not as concentrated as prime... Meaning that they have more water, which is nice for smaller tanks because more accurate dosing may be achieved.
Yes, it does bind ammonia, but it does not keep it from being processed. This is why I sugggest it to all people who have bought fish without too much research and are going through a full blown (or even mini) cycle. Between prime and salt (for the nitrites) the bad effects of a cycle or minicycle may be mostly avoided. It makes ammonia non-toxic to the fish, yet allows them to be converted to nitrites.
Prime is nice when you need it, but because all I have to worry about is heavy metals, I use API Super Strength Tap Water Conditioner. It is $4.99 for a 16.9oz bottle that treats 9,640 gallons, that is about twice as concentrated as prime, but it costs much less. That much prime would cost 18 dollars (2, 250mL bottles at 8ish each plus 8.125% tax) and only treat 5,000 gallons. API SSTWC binds heavy metals and chlorine, nothing more. Not chloramines or ammonia. But for those who do not need all the "magical" effects of prime, API is great. Because it is soooo cheap for the volume, every time I order from DFS I throw a bottle on to my order. It is 5 bucks online, but 10 in store. Even if it cost $20, it would be cheaper than prime.
The only things that prime should be used for:
1) Dechlor
2) Break chloramines
3) Bind Ammonia
Just beware, prime is SUPER disgusting smelling. I actually considered it for a stink bomb at school once! The worst smelling stuff ever, worst than amquel.
Good for chlorine cloramine nitrite nitrate ammonia. Almost sounds like a cure-all eh? Works wonderfully though.
