Seachem Prime Fresh and Saltwater Conditioner – Chemical Remover and Detoxifier 250 ml
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| Brand | Seachem |
| Liquid Volume | 250 Milliliters |
| Item Weight | 0.29 Kilograms |
| Item Form | other |
| Target Species | Fish |
About this item
- POWERFUL TREATMENT: Seachem Prime is a complete and concentrated conditioner for both freshwater and saltwater fish tanks, working hard to remove chlorine and chloramine.
- REMOVER: Seachem Prime immediately and permanently removes chlorine and chloramine, successfully allowing the bio filter to remove ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate while they are detoxified for 48 hours.
- DETOXIFIER: Seachem Prime effectively detoxifies ammonia, nitrite, and heavy metals found in the tap water at typical concentration levels, providing a ideal environment for your betta, tetra, or other fish.
- USE: Use 1 capful (5 mL) of Seachem Prime for each 200 L (50 US gallons) of new or replacement water. For best results, add Seachem Prime to new water first. For exceptionally high chloramine concentrations, a double dose may be used safely. For smaller volumes, use 2 drops per gallon.
- SAFETY: In case of an emergency, the 5x dose of Seachem Prime may be used for both ammonia and nitrite. Use a ½ dose if the water temperature is > 30°C (86°F) and chlorine or ammonia levels are low.
Customer ratings by feature
From the manufacturer
Typically, dechlorinators stop there, leaving an aquarium full of toxic ammonia
Seachem takes the necessary next step by including an ammonia binder.
- To detoxify the ammonia produced in the reduction process.
Prime
Description
Prime is the complete and concentrated conditioner for both fresh and saltwater. Prime removes chlorine, chloramine and detoxifies ammonia. Prime converts ammonia into a safe, non-toxic form that is readily removed by the tank’s biofilter. Prime may be used during tank cycling to alleviate ammonia/ nitrite toxicity. Prime detoxifies nitrite and nitrate, allowing the biofilter to more efficiently remove them.
- It will also detoxify any heavy metals found in the tap water at typical concentration levels. Prime is non-acidic and will not impact pH. Prime will not overactivate skimmers.
- Use at start-up and whenever adding or replacing water. When transporting or quarantining fish, use Seachem StressGuard. When adding new fish, use Stability. Both are ideal for use with Prime.
- A single 100 mL bottle will treat 1000 US gallons of tap water. Prime will remove both chloramines from municipal water supplies.
- Prime also contains a binder which renders ammonia, nitrite, and non-toxic. It is very important to understand how those two functions work together.
- The reduction process also breaks the bonds between chlorine and nitrogen atoms in the chloramine molecule, freeing the chlorine atoms and replacing them with hydrogen to create ammonia.
- Prime promotes the natural production and restoration of the slime coat rather than relying on artificial or non-native slime compounds.
- A further bonus for the reef hobbyist , Prime will not overactivate protein skimmers.
Complete and concentrated conditioner for both fresh and saltwater
- Removes chlorine, chloramine
Detoxifies ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate
Product Description
Seachem Prime is a complete and concentrated conditioner for both freshwater and saltwater fish tanks, working hard to remove chlorine and chloramine.
For over three decades, Seachem has been a company rooted in sound science. Our experience in the hobby and an educated staff of chemists and biologists are part of the package when you purchase Seachem products. Seachem remains as one of the few surviving independent and privately owned pet care companies. Seachem is owned and operated by hobbyists. All of our employees are hobbyists who maintain aquariums at home and at the office. Seachem itself was started because one such passionate hobbyist – Dr. Leo G. Morin (Founder) – recognized that the available solutions to aquarists problem wanting. This resulted in Seachem’s very first product: Cupraplex (today known as Cupramine). Over thirty years later Seachem is still approaching old problems in a new way.
Seachem’s philosophy is that the knowledgeable hobbyist makes the best customer. This is reflected in solid and reliable customer education and support as well as products proven in science and performance. While Seachem has grown rapidly into a national and international firm, it retains the culture of a small company and is readily available to its customers.
Product details
- Is Discontinued By Manufacturer : No
- Product Dimensions : 6.1 x 1.8 x 1.8 inches; 10.23 Ounces
- Item model number : 67104360
- Date First Available : August 18, 2004
- Manufacturer : Seachem Laboratories, Inc.
- ASIN : B0002568S6
- Best Sellers Rank: #726 in Pet Supplies (See Top 100 in Pet Supplies)
- Customer Reviews:
Important information
Directions
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Customer reviews
Reviewed in the United States on May 2, 2021
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Performing Emergency fish-in cycle with Seachem Prime
Step 1: Set up your aquarium
It’s time to set up your aquarium. And, that includes all the equipment – heaters, filters, air pumps… Get it in there! Don’t forget to rinse it with fresh water first!
The beneficial bacteria need a surface to cling to, namely your substrate and filter media. So by setting everything up, you give your bacteria as many surfaces as possible to cling to.
Add water to the tank, and don’t forget to dechlorinate it with your water conditioner first.
Finally, you want to keep all electrical equipment, such as heaters, filters and bubblers, switched on throughout the entire cycling process. Not only will this keep your fish as comfortable as possible, but it will also make your tank cycle faster.
Want to cycle your tank as quickly as possible? Check out FishLab’s tips for speeding up the cycling process.
Step 2: Adding your fish
Before you add your fish, you want to acclimate them first. This will give them the best chance of survival.
You want to feed your fish throughout the cycling process… You don’t want them to starve!
When feeding your fish, however, it’s important that you don’t feed them too much. The more you feed them, the more they are going to poop. And the more they poop, the faster your ammonia levels are going to rise.
Also, remove any uneaten food from the tank, a good aquarium net will make this easy. Any uneaten food left behind will break down into ammonia, causing the levels to rise.
If a fish dies during the cycle, remove it from the aquarium ASAP. Its decaying body will also give off ammonia. Don’t panic if one of your fish dies. It doesn’t necessarily mean that all your fish will – this one might have been extra sensitive.
Step 3: Test, test, test, and test again
Now, use your ammonia test kit every 24 hours.
What you are looking for is any sign of ammonia. Trust me. It won’t be long before it appears.
Once your test kit returns positive for ammonia, it’s time to move to the next step.
Step 4: Dealing with ammonia
Once you detect ammonia, it’s time to start dosing with Seachem Prime. Follow the instructions on the bottle to determine what a single dose would be for your tank – the larger the aquarium, the more Prime you will need. Fortunately, a little goes a long way, and many of you will find that a single bottle of Prime will get you through an entire cycle.
For this method, Seachem Prime is the most important ingredient. You see, a dose of Prime will bind ammonia, nitrite and nitrate for 24 to 48 hours, making them harmless to your fish.
Picture Seachem Prime locking up ammonia, nitrite and nitrate in a jail cell for up to 48 hours. While in the cell, these nasties cannot harm your fish. However, once their time is up, and they are released, they will once again attack your fish.
It is for this reason that you need to dose regularly with Seachem Prime, to keep these nasties locked up.
A single dose of Prime will treat up to 1 part per million (ppm) of ammonia. Prime can be dosed up to 5 times safely. So, 2 ppm of ammonia can be treated with two doses of Prime, 3 ppm can be treated with three doses, and so on.
Anything less than 1 ppm should be treated with a single dose. Between 1 ppm and 2 ppm, two doses. You get the idea. Oh, and it goes without saying that it’s better to overdose than underdose.
*Once your test kit reads 2 ppm of ammonia, you should perform a 50% water change. This should cut your ammonia levels roughly in half. Repeat this process until you notice that your ammonia levels are not rising as quickly as before. Typically, this will take a week or two. When this happens, you are ready to move to the next step.
Bookmark this page so that you can easily find it when you are ready for the next step!
Step 5: Nitrites start to appear
Next, you need to test for nitrites. If none are present, keep repeating the previous step and testing for nitrites daily until you get a positive result.
Now that nitrite has entered the equation, you need to make sure you are dosing with enough Prime to protect your fish from both ammonia and nitrites.
Fortunately, working out your new dosage is pretty simple – just add your nitrite and ammonia readings together.
Let’s say your test returns the following…
Ammonia 0.25 ppm
Nitrite 1.5 ppm
Adding the two together will give you a total of 1.75 ppm. A double dose of Prime will take care of it.
This time, if your combined ppm of ammonia and nitrite reaches 4, perform a 50% water change.
Keep repeating this. You will eventually notice that your ammonia drops to zero. This is a good thing – bacteria are eating the ammonia as quickly as it is being produced, resulting in a zero reading.
Continue daily dosing and testing for ammonia and nitrites. Once your nitrite levels stop rising as quickly, you are ready for the next step.
Step 6: Nitrates appear
Now, you want to test for nitrates. If none are present, keep repeating the previous step and testing for nitrates daily until you get a positive result.
Once nitrates are present, you are nearing the end (woohoo!). Continue testing for ammonia, nitrites and nitrates. Your ammonia levels should still be zero, and your nitrite levels should be declining.
Keep dosing with Prime until both your nitrite and ammonia levels are zero. At this stage, the beneficial bacteria are eating them as quickly as they are being produced.
Congratulations! You have successfully completed a fish-in cycle.
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 2, 2021
Performing Emergency fish-in cycle with Seachem Prime
Step 1: Set up your aquarium
It’s time to set up your aquarium. And, that includes all the equipment – heaters, filters, air pumps… Get it in there! Don’t forget to rinse it with fresh water first!
The beneficial bacteria need a surface to cling to, namely your substrate and filter media. So by setting everything up, you give your bacteria as many surfaces as possible to cling to.
Add water to the tank, and don’t forget to dechlorinate it with your water conditioner first.
Finally, you want to keep all electrical equipment, such as heaters, filters and bubblers, switched on throughout the entire cycling process. Not only will this keep your fish as comfortable as possible, but it will also make your tank cycle faster.
Want to cycle your tank as quickly as possible? Check out FishLab’s tips for speeding up the cycling process.
Step 2: Adding your fish
Before you add your fish, you want to acclimate them first. This will give them the best chance of survival.
You want to feed your fish throughout the cycling process… You don’t want them to starve!
When feeding your fish, however, it’s important that you don’t feed them too much. The more you feed them, the more they are going to poop. And the more they poop, the faster your ammonia levels are going to rise.
Also, remove any uneaten food from the tank, a good aquarium net will make this easy. Any uneaten food left behind will break down into ammonia, causing the levels to rise.
If a fish dies during the cycle, remove it from the aquarium ASAP. Its decaying body will also give off ammonia. Don’t panic if one of your fish dies. It doesn’t necessarily mean that all your fish will – this one might have been extra sensitive.
Step 3: Test, test, test, and test again
Now, use your ammonia test kit every 24 hours.
What you are looking for is any sign of ammonia. Trust me. It won’t be long before it appears.
Once your test kit returns positive for ammonia, it’s time to move to the next step.
Step 4: Dealing with ammonia
Once you detect ammonia, it’s time to start dosing with Seachem Prime. Follow the instructions on the bottle to determine what a single dose would be for your tank – the larger the aquarium, the more Prime you will need. Fortunately, a little goes a long way, and many of you will find that a single bottle of Prime will get you through an entire cycle.
For this method, Seachem Prime is the most important ingredient. You see, a dose of Prime will bind ammonia, nitrite and nitrate for 24 to 48 hours, making them harmless to your fish.
Picture Seachem Prime locking up ammonia, nitrite and nitrate in a jail cell for up to 48 hours. While in the cell, these nasties cannot harm your fish. However, once their time is up, and they are released, they will once again attack your fish.
It is for this reason that you need to dose regularly with Seachem Prime, to keep these nasties locked up.
A single dose of Prime will treat up to 1 part per million (ppm) of ammonia. Prime can be dosed up to 5 times safely. So, 2 ppm of ammonia can be treated with two doses of Prime, 3 ppm can be treated with three doses, and so on.
Anything less than 1 ppm should be treated with a single dose. Between 1 ppm and 2 ppm, two doses. You get the idea. Oh, and it goes without saying that it’s better to overdose than underdose.
*Once your test kit reads 2 ppm of ammonia, you should perform a 50% water change. This should cut your ammonia levels roughly in half. Repeat this process until you notice that your ammonia levels are not rising as quickly as before. Typically, this will take a week or two. When this happens, you are ready to move to the next step.
Bookmark this page so that you can easily find it when you are ready for the next step!
Step 5: Nitrites start to appear
Next, you need to test for nitrites. If none are present, keep repeating the previous step and testing for nitrites daily until you get a positive result.
Now that nitrite has entered the equation, you need to make sure you are dosing with enough Prime to protect your fish from both ammonia and nitrites.
Fortunately, working out your new dosage is pretty simple – just add your nitrite and ammonia readings together.
Let’s say your test returns the following…
Ammonia 0.25 ppm
Nitrite 1.5 ppm
Adding the two together will give you a total of 1.75 ppm. A double dose of Prime will take care of it.
This time, if your combined ppm of ammonia and nitrite reaches 4, perform a 50% water change.
Keep repeating this. You will eventually notice that your ammonia drops to zero. This is a good thing – bacteria are eating the ammonia as quickly as it is being produced, resulting in a zero reading.
Continue daily dosing and testing for ammonia and nitrites. Once your nitrite levels stop rising as quickly, you are ready for the next step.
Step 6: Nitrates appear
Now, you want to test for nitrates. If none are present, keep repeating the previous step and testing for nitrates daily until you get a positive result.
Once nitrates are present, you are nearing the end (woohoo!). Continue testing for ammonia, nitrites and nitrates. Your ammonia levels should still be zero, and your nitrite levels should be declining.
Keep dosing with Prime until both your nitrite and ammonia levels are zero. At this stage, the beneficial bacteria are eating them as quickly as they are being produced.
Congratulations! You have successfully completed a fish-in cycle.
Top reviews from other countries
Yesterday afternoon, upon reading the results of my water test, I immediately did a 50 per cent water change and ordered this Seachem Prime as it had many reviews saying it immediately got rid of nitrites, nitrates and ammonia etc
This morning when I woke up I did another 25 per cent water change and an hour later tested my water – I had managed to get my nitrite levels down to roughly 2ppm. This is still no good, they MUST read 0 or your fish are in danger.
The Seachem Prime arrived today (less than 24 hours after ordering) and I immediately put 3ml into my 60L tank, which is 3x the stated dose but I had a nitrite emergency and felt happy all would be well.
I read my water levels an hour later and the nitrite readings are now roughly 0 – 0.5. It has clearly had an immediate effect on these levels and probably saved my little fish. I also have 3 minuscule little fry in the tank and I am hoping it has saved their little lives as well. The nitrate levels are now at around 20 ish which is perfectly safe for fish.
I am planning to put around 1ml of Prime into my water every 24 hours now, and do a 25 per cent water change twice a week until I think my tank has cycled fully. I will then reduce the Prime to once every 48 hours and continue to test, then once every 3 to 4 days and test to ensure there are no spikes and that my tank is cycled!
I am so grateful for this product, I did not sleep a wink last night desperate to sort this problem out!
Just to note, Seachem Prime can be used as a water conditioner by itself and it makes tap water safe for fish. However because this product had not arrived when I did my water changes I used API Stress Coat Plus in my new water which also makes tap water safe for fish as it removes chlorines and chloramines etc
The Prime can be used in conjunction with other products, it will not harm the fish. In future when I do water changes I will use Prime only as my water conditioner.
I also use a Gravel Cleaner liquid which breaks down waste and slows the build up of green algea.
I cannot recommend this product enough if you have a nitrite spike, it will save fishy lives!
UPDATE: LESS THAN 5 DAYS AFTER STARTING WITH THIS PRODUCT NITRITE AND NITRATE LEVELS BOTH 0.
This is a great product. I’ll now only use it as a water conditioner with my weekly water change!
Turns out my RO system was allowing out a large proportion of solids, chlorine and chloramine kill beneficial bacteria and this is what caused the die off. The Prime sorted that too but it was too late. Anyway…
Dosing with this my ammonia eventually stopped rising at 0.145 (on my seneye – so this is NH3 only, free ammonia). And then started creeping down. Within 6 days my ammonia has come down to 0.002 and no nitrites are registering either – basically fully cycled (again) in this time. I would REALLY recommend this for any startup, or emergency – hand in hand with Prime honestly, i dont think my fish would have survived this.
I have 7 BIG fish in a 1000l tank (marine) – not one casualty due to quick action with this!
I just wanted to help people using it for ammonia and still getting a high ammonia reading after treatment.
All Seachem products which detoxify ammonia do so to the free ammonia. Most of our tests kits test total ammonia. If you want to accurately check how much of the toxic free ammonia remains, get yourself the MultiTest Ammonia (Free & Total) from Seachem. The test seems a bit of a faff at first, but it’s proven invaluable for me at the moment as my once mature filter seems to have crashed and I am struggling through a fish-in cycle as a result.
I can tell you these products work as I can see from the behaviour of my fish.
But, as I have said, you need to test for the Free Ammonia levels after dosing to get a true reflection of how it is working.