nitz

ok so i've read that prime shouldn't be used with bio spira, and since bio spira isn't sold in Canada (at least that's what i've heard), i don't have this problem. i know prime converts ammonia to ammonium and nitrite to something else, which are both not toxic for fish, but i'm going fishless so don't have this problem. they say that the bacteria don't know the difference and still eat these other forms of ammonia and nitrite but i've read that this isn't necessarily true.

my question is, can i use prime to condition my water while i'm doing my fishless cycle (i'm using bottled ammonium hydroxide solution)?

jdhef

Yes, from what I've read on this forum you can use Prime. I believe that Prime turns the ammonia into ammonium, which is not toxic to fish, but will still support the bacteria that converts ammonia to nitraites.

As an aside, if your pH is below 7, you don't get ammonia in your water, you get ammonium instead. I believe ammonia is NH4 and Ammonium NH3 (I may have that backward). If you have an API Master test kit you will see at the top of the ammonia card it says NH3/NH4, since depending on your ph you could have one or the other.

You do not want to use a product such as Cycle or AmmoLoc (I think that's the name). They somehow lock up the ammonia and it becomes unavailable to the benificial bacteria and starve that bacteria out. In such a case your thank will never cycle.

tzqng8

jdhef has you covered! Go John!

nitz

thanks jdhef!! that was great!

my pH is actually above 7.6. i don't have the pH high test. should've bought the master kit but thought i could save money just buying the ammonia, nitrite, nitrate tests. i know better for the future and will pick up a master kit once one of my kits is finished.

wasn't planning on using Cycle or AmmoLoc but it's good to know that they'd screw up the cycle.

thanks again

jdhef

You're welcome.