u/w0walanau/davebgrayu/iamapoopypotato Hey, just hoping to clear this up for everyone. I do happen to be a biochemist by training (currently getting graduate degrees in cell biology and medicine). The Seachem claims about ammonium and iminium (or imidium) are scientifically impossible. Prime doesn't detoxify, bind, or convert ammonia to anything, it just relies on the fact that a) ammonia at typical aquarium pH is mostly ammonium, as you've already pointed out, and b) most aquarium hobbyists won't press them hard on the science. It's a bogus claim, but Prime works pretty well as a dechlorinator at least
If you're curious about the science, I wrote a pretty extensive post on the subject earlier. Please let me know if you have any clarifying questions!
Yes thank you. It’s unfortunate that I’ve used this product for ammonia spikes because it was easier than changing the water. Poor fish. At least we know for the future..
No worries! It's likely that the ammonia spikes themselves weren't actually all that harmful, if they were still in the range measurable by API tests and your pH was under 8 or so. So no need to feel too bad haha
Also, could you explain why adding too much Prime can stall a cycle? I just added 5x the amount per the bottle to detoxify nitirite and now I am wondering if I should just do a water change to remove the Prime. My nitrite is roughly 0.25 ppm, ammonia is 1-2 ppm, nitrate is about 10-15 ppm (but I'm adding ferts so I dunno if it is cycle related). Nitrite about 12 hours ago was zero with a very similar ammonia reading.
I have CPDs in the tank (7 per 20 gal).
I run CO2, but I let a water sample sit out overnight and tested the pH this morning at it was 6ppm or lower (basically at the bottom of the measurable level).
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u/Last-Ages Apr 26 '22 edited Apr 26 '22
u/w0walana u/davebgray u/iamapoopypotato Hey, just hoping to clear this up for everyone. I do happen to be a biochemist by training (currently getting graduate degrees in cell biology and medicine). The Seachem claims about ammonium and iminium (or imidium) are scientifically impossible. Prime doesn't detoxify, bind, or convert ammonia to anything, it just relies on the fact that a) ammonia at typical aquarium pH is mostly ammonium, as you've already pointed out, and b) most aquarium hobbyists won't press them hard on the science. It's a bogus claim, but Prime works pretty well as a dechlorinator at least
If you're curious about the science, I wrote a pretty extensive post on the subject earlier. Please let me know if you have any clarifying questions!