Is Prime messing with my cycle?

**serbusfish** · 12-31-2012, 01:48 PM

Ive been cycling my tank for over 2 months now and im still getting ammonia and nitrite reading. Ive been using Prime as a de-chlorinater and ive also been dosing it when my readings have been high and ive been unable to do a water change (eg when going to work).

I went in my local fish shop today and told the owner ive been using Prime and he told me Prime will be starving the bacteria in the filter of ammonia/nitrite because ive been dosing it. Is this true? Ive purchased some JBL Biotopol instead to try as he said this is what he uses and that its really good stuff.

**Lady Hobbs** · 12-31-2012, 01:52 PM

Prime is an excellent dechlorinator. If you are having issues with ammonia and nitrites, then I would do water changes rather than just adding more Prime without the water changes.

Are you cleaning out the filter media? If so, that's where your cycle is at. You have to leave the media alone so it can grow bacteria.

**Cliff** · 12-31-2012, 01:53 PM

The LFS is full of BS. Prime will not effect your cycle unless you are using 5X the recommended doseage (or more)

Prime dose not remove ammonia or nitrites, it just makes it less toxic to your fish

**Honey Badger 1** · 12-31-2012, 02:05 PM

I have cycled three tanks using Prime as the dechlorinator and all three tanks cycled in a very short time. It isn't the Prime.

**serbusfish** · 12-31-2012, 02:05 PM

No I havent touched my media at all. I will do a water change when I get the change but if I have to be at work or something and noticed levels are up to 0.25 or 0.50 I will put in 3x 2.5ml dosages of prime (3x my tank volume). According to my test kits this drops my levels down to 0.

I know it says on the net that a Cycle should still complete when using Prime like this but I cant understand why after 2 months im still getting Ammonia and Nitrite readings, LFS guy told me I should have been done after 6 weeks.

**Honey Badger 1** · 12-31-2012, 02:06 PM

Your lfs guy also told you that Prime is starving the bacteria. Cycling with fish takes time, and sometimes it takes a long time.

**Cliff** · 12-31-2012, 02:08 PM

Sometimes (a lot of times) cycling with fish can take longer than 6 weeks due to a very long list of variables. I have had one take 8 weeks before. I never did figure out the cause, but it cycled so I was not too worried about.

Could you be over feeding your fish ?

**Taurus** · 12-31-2012, 02:09 PM

Originally Posted by Cliff

The LFS is full of BS. Prime will not effect your cycle unless you are using 5X the recommended doseage (or more)

Prime dose not remove ammonia or nitrites, it just makes it less toxic to your fish

Cliff is right without question.

If the LFS really wants to do you a favor, they'd give you some used filter media from their in store tanks to put in your filters. Used filter media from a healthy tank already has nitrifying bacteria housed in it and would quickly populate your filter media. Even a small bag of gravel from one of the tanks at the LFS has nitifying bacteria living in it. All you would have to do is put that gravel in your filter or in your tank and the nitrifying bacteria would populate your filter. Make sure the used media or gravel stays wet until you can put it in your tank or filter.

**Lady Hobbs** · 12-31-2012, 02:12 PM

Is your filter large enough for the tank size and your stock?

**Cermet** · 12-31-2012, 02:23 PM

Lady Hobbs has a good point; also, what is your pH? A pH below 6.5 is very difficult to cycle. Also, adding extra air can help some and raising the temp two degrees will also help a lot (but do keep it in a safe range for the fish you have!)