OK

Don't know if anyone remembers but besides my issues with my oscar burning hirself on hir tank heater (s/he's healing up fine btw ) I've recently had troubles with horrid cloudiness and ammonia spikes with every water change which is bad because most people do water changes to reduce such chemicals.

After doing a lot of research, talking to my independent LFS owner (who is a knowledgeable guy) here's what I've discovered and what I did about it.

Turns out over time out local water supply has been contaminated by ammonia (and other nasties) due to the increased actions of industrial hog lots and inappropriate disposal of waste, which is really sad since our area has enjoyed one of the best underground aquafers in the midwest. So now our local waterworks has to add scary amounts of chloramine to the water.

Apparently my previous loyalties to API's Tap Water Conditioner + Ammolock have lost their rational foundations because those treatments have become ineffective (or at least not effective enough to keep my fish safe and healthy).

This morning, after just having done a water change last night, I woke to find my oscar in dire straits likely due to high ammonia and nitrite levels (the latter caused by my functioning biological filter trying to keep up I'm sure). I changed all of the water and replaced it with water treated with newly purchased Prime.

Long story short, the tank has recovered, the oscar has recovered, everything's A OK again.

Prime ROCKS!!!

Yes, prime is very good and can certainly save the day.

Actually, I believe a lot of water companies are actually using chloramine instead of chlorine. Unfortunately for people who keep fish, chloramine contains ammonia which is why some people suddenly find that presence in their aquarium. However, a healthy biological filters should deal with the extra ammonia perfectly okay.

Anyway, glad to hear that your fish are doing okay

So Happy for you! I am very happy for your fish!

Well done Jim..... Nice thread.

yes I remember your other post, and i have become a prime fan to, because how good it works and the cost. glad you solved the problem.

I take it 'prime' is the same as 'safe start' and 'aqua safe and other brands?

JamieM wrote:


Yes, all water treatments for tapwater.

I found this rather informative independent source of info about various water treatment products.

www.theaquariumwiki.com/Water_conditioners

So many sources are actually just ads for the products posted by their parent companies.

OFL wrote:


Thanks

I would hope my biological filter would be adequate.

Marinland canister containing 66 API biostars plus fluval ceramic rings and a prefilter sponge, MagnumHOT HOB canister full of Bio-max also with prefilter sponge then an Aqua-tech double waterfall HOB with 2 bio-pads.

The amount of ammonia strait out of my tap is just heinous.

OMFG one of these days, people will listen to me!! I talk about PRIME in any post with water problems...lol.. I swear by it! I think it can cure cancer!

my bio and mechanical is more than enough to combat ammonia etc....NEVER have spikes...then again I over filtrate like crazy...you can drink my water

i never use any water conditioner too... my filtration is good enough to
can cope with my huge fishes...

JamieM wrote:


its the same as it removes chloramine and provides a protective coating, but it also goes a lot further than that. it removes ammonia(in small amounts) again it removes nitrites and helps remove nitrates too. most common water conditioners only do the first, remove chloramine and give slime coat. it also only needs a very small amount so goes a long way. its my treatment by choice now. if another company wants to improve on it they have there work cut out. ))