Fish: Re: [tropical fish club] OK, Talked to Dr. Tim again....

Connie,

I'm no chemist, but getting a zero ammonia reading (if you have zero
ammonia) may be the only way to know if your Prime is completely removed. It's
effectiveness lasts about 48 hours, but just like any other chemical you add
to a tank, it would seem to me that once you add it, it's in there until you
remove it -- or dissipates through the surface if it's a gas. In the case
of Prime, its hydrosulfite salts probably change form as another similar but
uneffective compound, which may possibly still give a false ammonia reading
until it's removed physically (via PWC's), but maybe someone more familiar
with it may know better. Here's a case where you may want to call SeaChem
about this, to find out if the Prime remains in the water in another form
after its usefulness is gone. Then too, Dr. Tim may also know the answer to
this, and it's association with false Ammonia readings..

Once the tank is cycled, Prime is no longer needed, except with PWC's, and
is to be discontinued for the purpose of rendering Free Ammonia built up in
the water harmless. I don't know how you can completely eliminate Prime in
your water though when you need to add it each time you make a PWC.
Perhaps, if Dr. Tim (or SeaChem) indicates that after 48 hours, that Prime will no
longer give false Ammonia readings, then all you'll have to do is wait it
out until after this time period, but I don't have the answer to this,

See what kind if test results you get after two days -- without doing any
PWC's -- and/or call Dr. Tim again to discuss this point and run by him
whether this water conditioner remains in the water as another chemical after
its effectiveness is used up -- and still give false results then.

Ray

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