Test kits and Prime

[scruffy]

OK, so how badly do Prime and other ammonia removing products affect your test results? I picked up drop kits for nitrate and nitrite at the same time that I purchased a bottle of prime and the lady at the LFS said that at least with the test strips Prime gives false positives. She didn't know about the drop kits.

I have been using Prime, Amquel, and the top fin ammonia remover for months, yet my test results seem to correspond well to what is going on with my tanks, ie too many fish, tanks that were medicated, goldfish on a flake diet, moving some fish to another tank making it better, etc.

Has anyone had any problems with drop tests being affected by Prime or other ammonia removing products? I hope I'm not having to chose between Prime and accurate results.

S

[Drumachine09]

In a properly cycled, heathly tank, there would be NO need for an ammonia remover. What are you using it for?

[A340]

In a properly cycled, heathly tank, there would be NO need for an ammonia remover. What are you using it for?
Tap water perhaps? The products the OP is using are to treat tap water when adding it to the tank (i.e.: water changes).

I'm assuming that the OP is using these products for water changes. If so, I usually wait a couple of days before I do any tests.

As for Prime, I've been using it for quite sometime now and have never had a problem with my tests. But I would imagine, that if you do a test right after a water change and adding conditioners, the test may not be as accurate is it should be, but I could be wrong.

[SkarloeysMom]

I use Amquel because of the ammonia in my tap water. alizee340, I think you may be right about doing the test right after the water change. I wait till the next day after a water change to run tests for that same reason.

[scruffy]

I use prime as a water conditioner. Sometimes things happen that affect the cycle, so it's nice to have a little help. Usually, I will test before a water change as a guide to how much I should change. Also, if a fish isn't looking well, I'll test the water to see if that's why.

What's an OP?

[A340]

I use prime as a water conditioner. Sometimes things happen that affect the cycle, so it's nice to have a little help. Usually, I will test before a water change as a guide to how much I should change. Also, if a fish isn't looking well, I'll test the water to see if that's why.

What's an OP?

"OP" stands for Original Poster, more or less the person who starts the thread by submitting the first post. In this case, you by asking the question. Took me awhile to figure that one out to when I first joined a forum.

How soon after you do a water change do you test the water again?

Also, a word about water conditioners. It's like anything, filters, cameras or cars. We each have our favourite product that we swear by. I used to use Hagen's AquaPlus, but have been using Seachem's Prime for quite sometime and find it works better.

[scruffy]

In answer to your question, I wait a day or two after a water change to test again. I have in the past tested after a water change and that was a maddening experience, because I had just done the work and I thought I had to do it again!

[elmer]

OK, so how badly do Prime and other ammonia removing products affect your test results? I picked up drop kits for nitrate and nitrite at the same time that I purchased a bottle of prime and the lady at the LFS said that at least with the test strips Prime gives false positives. She didn't know about the drop kits.

I have been using Prime, Amquel, and the top fin ammonia remover for months, yet my test results seem to correspond well to what is going on with my tanks, ie too many fish, tanks that were medicated, goldfish on a flake diet, moving some fish to another tank making it better, etc.

Has anyone had any problems with drop tests being affected by Prime or other ammonia removing products? I hope I'm not having to chose between Prime and accurate results.

S
Seems to work alright for me - no conflicts. I use Prime and the API liquid tests.