Author Topic: Seachem Prime and water tests (Read 7620 times) 6 replies

Fiona · « **on:** July 29, 2016, 02:34:30 PM »

If I've added seachem prime to a tank is it normal to still get a positive nitrite reading @Sue ?

Paddyc · « **Reply #1 on:** July 29, 2016, 04:13:04 PM »

Quote from: Fiona on July 29, 2016, 02:34:30 PM

If I've added seachem prime to a tank is it normal to still get a positive nitrite reading @Sue ?

I hope not, I just got my bottle yesterday... Will be closely monitoring the levels before and after using it for the first time... It's supposed to detoxify the levels so that shouldn't mean raising them!

How much % water change did you do and how long after it did you test?

I'm watching this thread closely

Sue · « **Reply #2 on:** July 29, 2016, 05:07:09 PM »

I know that you can get odd ammonia readings after using Prime, but I've not read anything about nitrite readings.

Seachem themselves comment on ammonia here under FAQs - and our test kits are Nessler ones. The FAQs don't mention nitrite though.

Did the tank have a nitrite reading before you added the Prime? It might be the same as ammonia, that is it still shows up in the test whether it is 'bound' or free.

fcmf · « **Reply #3 on:** July 29, 2016, 06:56:07 PM »

Quote from: Paddyc on July 29, 2016, 04:13:04 PM

I hope not, I just got my bottle yesterday... Will be closely monitoring the levels before and after using it for the first time... It's supposed to detoxify the levels so that shouldn't mean raising them!

Don't panic - I've been using Seachem Prime for at least 10 years, possibly longer, and have never had a nitrite reading (touchwood). Fiona will no doubt clarify later, but my reading of it - particularly the word 'still' - is that there was already nitrite in the tank.

Updated to add: been looking at my bottle of Prime. According to the label, it "detoxifies ammonia, nitrite and nitrate" and "detoxifies nitrite and nitrate, allowing the biofilter to more efficiently remove them", so I expect it doesn't actually remove them but just converts them to a safer form.

Paddyc · « **Reply #4 on:** August 01, 2016, 10:01:04 AM »

Quote from: fcmf on July 29, 2016, 06:56:07 PM

Don't panic - I've been using Seachem Prime for at least 10 years, possibly longer, and have never had a nitrite reading (touchwood). Fiona will no doubt clarify later, but my reading of it - particularly the word 'still' - is that there was already nitrite in the tank.

Updated to add: been looking at my bottle of Prime. According to the label, it "detoxifies ammonia, nitrite and nitrate" and "detoxifies nitrite and nitrate, allowing the biofilter to more efficiently remove them", so I expect it doesn't actually remove them but just converts them to a safer form.

Thanks for that fcmf xx

Sue · « **Reply #5 on:** August 01, 2016, 10:28:52 AM »

Seachem have never been able to say how Prime detoxifies nitrite and nitrate. The suspicion is that they don't actually know.

All these additives is the reason I don't use Prime. It is useful for people who have chloramine in their water supply as it detoxifies the ammonia part until the bacteria can remove it, and it helps with those water supplies that have some nitrite, again until the bacteria can remove it.

Fiona · « **Reply #6 on:** August 02, 2016, 12:16:01 AM »

It's a bit weird because there's not been an ammonia positive, just nitrite. I'm assuming bacteria on the plants and other stuff I added to the tank had sufficient bacteria to convert the ammonia to nitrite. I had to adjust the dose of seachem until I got a negative result on my API master test set, so no it doesnt give a false positive.

I ordered a filter that I expected to be able to add mature filter media and I can't hence the seachem amazon super fast delivery and an ebay dispute.

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Seachem Prime And Water Tests

Seachem Prime And Water Tests

Author Topic: Seachem Prime and water tests (Read 7620 times) 6 replies

Fiona

Seachem Prime and water tests

Paddyc

Re: Seachem Prime and water tests

Sue

Re: Seachem Prime and water tests

fcmf

Re: Seachem Prime and water tests

Paddyc

Re: Seachem Prime and water tests

Sue

Re: Seachem Prime and water tests

Fiona

Re: Seachem Prime and water tests

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