[60gallon]

Im about to start cycling my 55 gallon tank using ammonia. Can i use Prime as a dechlorinator even though it says it removes ammonia?

If not I'll pick up a bottle of this: http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.j ... Id=2752208

 

[jrf]

Yup, you can use Prime. It doesn't actually remove ammonia, it just binds to it and makes it non-toxic to the fish. This bound ammonia is still usable by the bacteria.

 

[60gallon]

Yup, you can use Prime. It doesn't actually remove ammonia, it just binds to it and makes it non-toxic to the fish. This bound ammonia is still usable by the bacteria.

Great thanks for the help!! :thumb:

 

[60gallon]

One more question...it says it detoxifies nitrite and nitrate. Will that slow down the cycling process?

 

[prov356]

One more question...it says it detoxifies nitrite and nitrate. Will that slow down the cycling process?

No. The ammonia/nitrite is still available to the bacteria, so it'll have no effect. Not sure why they put that on the bottle about nitrates. Maybe because thay can? Nitrates aren't seriously toxic anyway and are usually dilluted through water changes.

 

[Number6]

Nitrates aren't seriously toxic anyway and are usually dilluted through water changes.

I once had over 20ppm on a salt water reef tank and a yellow tang stopped eating! Prime did the trick and a week later the Tang started eating. An algae scrubber later and nitrates hit zero. Nitrate may be more toxic than we give it credit for...

 

[prov356]

I hear you, but not a fair comparison. Salt water is, of course, a very different animal and nitrates often need to be monitored more closely. I don't suggest we ignore nitrates, but they're just not in the same league as ammonia/nitrite, and I find it amusing that that would be put on the bottle. A bit misleading to hobbyists also, freshwater anyway. Nitrates in a freshwater tank don't need to be detoxed with a bottled product. Don't get me started on 'you-know-who'. I won't mention the vendor name.