DRock914

A lot of people on this forum recommend the seachem product prime. From my understanding prime detoxifies ammonia, nitrites and nitrates. When the ammonia is detoxified doesn't that temporarily stop it from breaking down and creating the good bacteria needed in a tank? I could be wrong but it was just something I was wondering about.

For people who are doing a fishless cycle wouldn't it be better if you just let nature naturally cycle the ammonia in the tank then adding prime every day since there are no fish that could be harmed?

mathas

Not really. From what I understand, Prime temporarily detoxifies the ammonia by binding an extra hydrogen atom and converting the ammonia (NH3) to its less-toxic form, ammonium (NH4). Nitrifying bacteria can still consume ammonium.

Using Prime during a fishless cycle is unneeded in my opinion. It is, however, good to use just before adding livestock, to remove any chlorine/chloramine/heavy metals present in the water.

DRock914

That makes sense. I was using ammo lock before I was advised not to on this forum and all that did was let the ammonia keep building up until it hit 8. The ammonia was not toxic but it also wasn't going anywhere. I was doing daily water changes and it didn't help. Now that I do not use ammo lock after a 50% water change my ammonia is at 2 and I only use stress coat and a dechlorinizer. I would think that prime would do the same thing seeing how they both detoxify ammonia.