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Is Seachem's Prime bad for planted tanks as it detoxifies nitrates? Would this make it something different for the plants not being able to use it?

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Wings,

That is not a bad question as I had similar thoughts a few weeks back when I helpded someone with a dechlorinator question. It was the first time that I came across this particular element of the Prime description.

I do use Prime ever since I set up the big tank and a few weeks back problems started to arise. Naturally, I wondered if the Prime was responsible for my nutrient imbalance as I believed to feed enough Nitrate.

On second thought though I realized that the Prime could not be the problem. If it would render Nitrate useless, how would the tank have been able to flourish up to that point. With that thought I ended my research.

Now you bring it up as a thread so maybe someone can explain it better than just taking a tank as an example.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Well I am glad I am not the only one that was wondering about that. Maybe I will take some time and call seachem up this friday when I am not working! But maybe someone will have a deeper insight before I get too carried away. I know other people with planted tanks are using it but I don't know what kind of effect it has on things.

Edit: Hey I am a Mega Fish!

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Congrats on the Mega Fish Wings

But where are all your Aquarank Votes

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Oh sorry about that! I swear sometimes it doesn't work...but I guess most of the time I forget.... don't hate me for it...

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Here is the info I took of a on line sales site this apprently is the info from SeaChem not sales talk.
I have contacted previously and always found them extremly helpful. If you hunt around I am sure it will bea lot cheaper buying online.

Seachem Prime
Prime™ is the complete and concentrated conditioner for both fresh and salt water. Prime™ removes chlorine, chloramine and ammonia. Prime™ converts ammonia into a safe, non-toxic form that is readily removed by the tank’s biofilter. Prime™ may be used during tank cycling to alleviate ammonia/nitrite toxicity. Prime™ detoxifies nitrite and nitrate, allowing the biofilter to more efficiently remove them. It will also detoxify any heavy metals found in the tap water at typical concentration levels.Prime™ also promotes the production and regeneration of the natural slime coat. Prime™ is non-acidic and will not impact pH. Prime™ will not overactivate skimmers. Use at start-up and whenever adding or replacing water.
DIRECTIONS: Use 1 capful (5 mL) for each 200 L (50 gallons*) of new water. For smaller doses, please note each cap thread is approx. 1 mL). This dose removes approximately 0.6 mg/L ammonia, 3 mg/L chloramine, or 4 mg/L chlorine. May be added to aquarium directly, but better if added to new water first. If adding directly to aquarium, base dose on aquarium volume. Sulfur odor is normal. For exceptionally high chloramine concentrations, a double dose may be used safely. To detoxify nitrite in an emergency, up to 5 times normal dose may be used. If temperature is > 30 °C (86 °F) and chlorine or ammonia levels are low, use a half dose


Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info

Look here for my
Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos

Keith

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Keith,

Thanks for all the info. It still doesn't really say what it does to the nitrates compared to what the plants are going to be doing. I guess I will have to call them...

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Or just send them an email. Unless it's like 1am in the morning they've always gotten back to me very quickly when I use email.
I haven't noticed any problems using prime in my tanks and the nitrates were actually dropping for awhile so the plants had to be using it but I only used prime when I setup the tank with tapwater and since then have used ro water for water changes.

From what i understand, you have to does very high amounts of it for the bacteria to detoxify the nitrate. The normal dosage only helps with ammonia detoxification by bacteria. I have been using this product(prime) for the last 2 or so months and if anything, my plants' health has gone up. Before i was using prime, i was using their neutral regulator which is phosphate based, thus resulting in high PO4 in my tanks. And i also believe this lead to hair algae, which has gone down considerabley, almost gone.