Seachem Prime....does It Give You False Ammonia Readings?

[Cheffi]

I used Tetra Aquasafe when I filled my new tank to cycle it. However now comparing the dosage between it and the Seachem Prime I realise that you need to use far more Aquasafe.

I've just had a quick read on the Seachem website and from what I can gather Prime can give false ammonia readings if you're using certain test kits. I have an API Master test kit. Will it give me true reading if I use the Seachem Cheers.

 

[Cheffi]

Anyone?

 

[astroboy]

I use prime and also use a AP master test kit. I do not get false ammonia readings

 

[Cheffi]

OK thx.

 

[TammyLiz]

If you have chloramines in your water Prime will break the chlorine/ammonia bond and actually release ammonia into your water. So it is a true reading, not false. As far as I know, there is nothing you can do about this, and its not limited to Prime.

 

[Nick Sw]

I think your safe Cheffi both the Seachem Prime and API test kits are very popular and by the sounds of the info on the seachem site it`s a different type of test kit that can be affected.

 

[Flumpus]

I used to use Prime and never had any problems. The only reason I stopped using it is because of the horrid smell.

 

[Tolak]

Prime will break the bond between chlorine & ammonia in chloramine. Prime also converts ammonia to ammonium, which isn't harmful to fish, but still able to be utilized by your bio filtration.

If you have the single bottle test for ammonia, it is the Nessler test, and will show ammonium as ammonia. If you have the 2 bottle test, it is the salycilate test, and will not show ammonium as ammonia.

 

[Iron Man]

Wow....I was following this as I swear by Prime.

Thanks for the info Tolak.

 

[TammyLiz]

I believe the ammonium converts back to ammonia if your pH is above neutral. In fact, if your pH is low enough, the ammonia naturally converts to ammonium even in your tank. Although it is LESS toxic than ammonia, it is not non toxic. Its still going to bother your fish. I believe it has more to do with pH than anything else, though.