Prime Problems

I recently had a pH spike caused by a sudden rise in the pH of my tap water in all my tanks. I have been doing regular water changes ( with tap water that has since returned to it's normal pH). I usualy use interpet tap safe but I ran out and all I could get localy was prime. When I mixed up my new water I tested the pH before adding. I found the pH was higher than normal despite the tap water being the same so I decided to experiment. I did two tanks with prime and two with the dregs of my tap safe. The tanks with tap safe are at their normal pH but the ones with prime were 0.3 pH units higher than their norm and the fish are acting stressed.
I don't know whether the prime raises pH or if the tap safe lowers it but I have got more tapsafe now and I will return to what has worked for me for years.
Ive never liked the idea of prime as it contains ammonia detoxifying chemicals which I don't need as my ammonia is good anyway and as a rule of thumb I don't like adding any unnecessary chemicals to my tank. I am dosing the prime tanks with stressguard until things return to normal and I hope this will prevent any fish loss.
Has anyone else found similar issues?

 

If you're that concerned about it, just leave your water out overnight and not bother with chems. Have you let your tap degas before checking PH?

For a long time I was using Safe (the powder form of Prime) but I was diluting it in a bottle not knowing that it was not shelf stable once water was added. So after about 48 hours it didn't work at all. Fortunately my habit is to age water 24 hours anyways... so... I never realized I was pretty much using no dechlorination for a year. And now I pretty much don't use a dechlorinator unless I want to use the water immediately.

Save your money and paranoia.

 

I usually have to make my water up a day before because I add equilibrium to the water ( I have very soft water with a GH of less than 1 and without it my fish and plants suffer mineral deficiency ) and it takes that long to full disolve) and kH up ( my tap water has a kH of 1) to keep pH from collapsing. I test it just before adding to the tank.
When I test tap water pH I fill a jar, leave it ten minutes then test. I am aware this is not accurate but as I do it the same every time it gives compatible results.
According to my local water company they use chloramines not chlorine in the water and these won't evaporate like chlorine. Also I live in a property with lead pipes so a conditioner which removes metals is a good idea.

 

never heard of Prime affecting pH. I did a search, and couldn't find any instances of it happening. but found some useful info,

post #31, this applies if your tap has Chloramines. TSS & Prime | Freshwater Beginners | Page 2 189034

 

I usually have to make my water up a day before because I add equilibrium to the water ( I have very soft water with a GH of less than 1 and without it my fish and plants suffer mineral deficiency ) and it takes that long to full disolve) and kH up ( my tap water has a kH of 1) to keep pH from collapsing. I test it just before adding to the tank.
When I test tap water pH I fill a jar, leave it ten minutes then test. I am aware this is not accurate but as I do it the same every time it gives compatible results.
According to my local water company they use chloramines not chlorine in the water and these won't evaporate like chlorine. Also I live in a property with lead pipes so a conditioner which removes metals is a good idea.

Ha ha that's why I mix a day ahead too! I add the equilibrium and then I give it a while to settle rather than just go with the TDS immediately after I mix it. I find it usually drops a little overnight.

Well that's too bad you have to use the dechlorinator.

 

never heard of Prime affecting pH. I did a search, and couldn't find any instances of it happening. but found some useful info,

post #31, this applies if your tap has Chloramines. TSS & Prime | Freshwater Beginners | Page 2 189034

If prime doesn't raise pH then perhaps something in tap safe lowers it and my routine is compensating for this.

 

1- you do your tap ph test when you got your tap..
2- add prime then test again the ph...
Carbon bubbles mix in your tap water decrease between two test .The time gap more greater, the ph measure more different
Prime will not impact ph like it state is true....
The only problem I do not like to use prime is ...it detoxifies ammonia,nitri,nitrate,which I need for my bacteria grow and survive..