Water conditioners.2

The table below gives dosing information on commonly used water conditioners and "dechlorinators". Note
that many products perform more than one function, some bind only chlorine, while others will bind chlorine,
chloramine (many water companies are switching to this highly toxic, yet less expensive alternative to
chlorine), ammonia, nitrIte, nitrAte and heavy metals. The product you choose depends upon your individual
situation. Below the table, is a small experiment I did using the product I prefer, Seachem Prime (and its
powdered, cheaper alternative, SAFE).
Table 1
Product
Manufacturer
Form (Powder
or liquid)
Chlorine Chloramine Ammonia Nitrite Nitrate Heavy
metals
Chlorine
Chloramine
Ammonia
Amquel
Kordon
Liquid
Amquel plus
Kordon
Liquid
X
X
X
AquaSafe
Tetra
Liquid
X
X
X
Cloram-X
Aqua science/ReedMariculture
Liquid
X
X
Cloram-X
Aqua science/ReedMariculture
Powder
X
Jungle Ace
Jungle labs
Liquid
MicrobeLift Aqua
extreme
Ecological laboratories,
inc
Liquid
MicrobeLift ammonia
remover with Cloram-x
Ecological laboratories,
inc
Microbelift super
dechlorinator + water
conditioner
Microbelift ammonia
remover
Nitrite
Nitrate
Normal Dose
Comments
Heavy metals
1 cup (8 ounces) per 480
gallons
Hydroxymethanesulfonic acid, sodium and salt; binds ammonia in non toxic form and available
for biofilter, can lower pH. Detoxifies up to 33 ppm chlorine, and up to 2.0 ppm or more
ammonia/ammonium
1 cup (8 ounces) per 480
gallons
Has additional ingredients from original Amquel. Also detoxifies pheromones. Does not affect
pH. AmQuel should not be added to water containing active, therapeutic dosages of chemical
dyes such as methylene blue, acriflavine, potassium permanganate or malachite green, since
AmQuel will interfere with their proper performance. Combining AmQuel with these dyes will not
result in toxic chemical by-products
60 ml/300 gallons
Ingredients: Organic chelating compounds, sodium hydroxymethane sulfinate,
polyvinylpyrrolidones, organic colloids.
X
1 ounce/60 gallons
1 ounce per 60 gallons of water to remove 1mg/L of total ammonia present.
X
X
1 ounce per 235 gallons
1 ounce per 235 gallons of water to remove 1mg/L of total ammonia present.
X
X
X
1 ounce/60 gallons
Cannot locate MSDS
X
X
X
1 ounce/60 gallons
Boosts alkalinity, adds essential electrolytes, adds a 3-part slime coat replacer; detoxifies
copper and heavy metals
Powder
X
X
X
1 ounce per 235 gallons
1 ounce per 235 gallons of water to remove 1mg/L of total ammonia present
Ecological laboratories,
inc
Liquid
X
X
1 ounce per 250 gallons
Hydroxymethanesulfonic acid, sodium salt; sodium chloride, sodium bicarbonate, EDTA per
MSDS
Ecological laboratories,
inc
Liquid
X
X
X
1 ounce per 90 gallons
Sodium Hydroxymethanesulfonate; sodium bicarbonate. ML AR is buffered to help prevent a
drop in both alkalinity (acid-neutralizing capacity) and pH when used to remove very high levels
of total ammonia. Will not interfere with biofilter.
NewPond
X
X
X
X
X
Powder
X
X
X
X
X
1 gram/gallon
Contains cloram-x and also has electrolytes and polymers to increase the slime coat of Fish
Prime
Seachem
Liquid
X
X
X
X
X
X
1 ounce/600 gallons
Proprietary aqueous solution of complexed hydrosulfite salts (per MSDS)
SAFE
Seachem
Powder
X
X
X
X
X
X
1.25 g/250 gallons; 1/4
teaspoon per 300 gallons
Proprietary blend of complexed hydrosulfite salts
Powder or
liquid
X
X
X
X
X
1 Ounce/ 60 gallons
Contains cloram-x and also has electrolytes and polymers to increase the slime coat of Fish
X
X
Add 5 teaspoonfuls of
ammo lock per 100 gallons
of pond water
Sodium thiosulfate pentahydrate, aliphatic amine salts, proprietary ingredients per MSDS.
Causes acidic products to be formed, thereby reducing pH; ammonia not available to the
biofilter.
One dose of ammo lock will neutralize 7.0ppm of chlorine, 3.0ppm of chloramines, and detoxify
3.0ppm of ammonia.
8 Grams/600 gallons; 20 g/
2,500 gallons; 30 g (1/8
cup)/2,300 gallons; 80 g
(1/3 cup)/6,000 gallons;
240 g (1 cup)/18,000
gallons
ST only removes chlorine - it WILL break the bond between chlorine and ammonia, and then
remove the chlorine. Ammonia must be removed by a different method. Per Roddy Conrad,
post #9: http://www.koiphen.com/forums/showthread.php?71618-Sodium-Thiosulfate-quotChlorine-amp-Chloramine-remover-quot
50 ml/100 gallons
Detoxifies chlorine and chloramine; has aloe Vera to help with slime coat. Binds heavy metals.
Contains ST and aloe Vera (per MSDS)
Ultimate
Ammolock- see
comments
API/Mars Fishcare
Liquid
X
Sodium thiosulfate (ST)
Various manufacturers;
can obtain relatively in
expensively from:
thechemistrystore.com
Crystals
X
API Stress Coat
Aquarium
pharmaceuticals
Liquid
X
X
X
Just doing some research on Prime and SAFE by Seachem, so that I can get the right dosages when adding to
my pond and thought I would share it. I found out some interesting information (which I had in the back of my
head anyway, but wanted to confirm). Most importantly, you CAN overdose both products, but it's unlikely. You
don't want to go over 5x the recommended amount and you only need to re-dose every 48 hours. If you are redosing more often, you do run the risk of overdosing if doing 5x the normal amount. However, I suspect that 5x
is their "safety margin" for people who can't read. Probably safer to much higher levels. After 48 hours, it
releases whatever it has bound.
Note: pond Prime and Pond SAFE are the exact same product as the aquarium products- they are just
used in different ways
From Seachem's website and FAQ/ forum areas:
Pond prime:
Normal dose is 1/8 cup per 600 gallons; = 2 Tablespoons, or 1 ounce per 600 gallons
High ammonia: 1/4 C to 1/2 C per 600 gallons- this is 4 T - 8 T /600 gallons, or 2 - 4 ounce/600 gallons
High nitrite - 10 Tablespoons / 600 gallons, or 5 ounces per 600 gallons (1/2C + 2 Tablespoons)
Pond SAFE:
Normal dose: 100 mg (scoop) per 25 gallons; = 1g/250 gallons; or 1.25 g/300 gallons (=1/4 t)
High ammonia: 1/4 teaspoon per 75 gallons; = 1/2 teaspoon/ 150 gallons; = 1 teaspoon / 300 gallons
*** note: you cannot make up a stock solution and use it over the course of several days. It is meant to be used
immediately, as it has no stabilizers added.
Re-dosing:
All water conditioners only have the ability to bind to ammonia, nitrites and/or nitrates for a limited period of
time; Prime actually will do this for a longer period than any other product available. You're correct; in an
established tank, the beneficial bacteria will consume these things within this time period. However, in a new
setup or cycling tank, we recommend dosing Prime every 48 hours to keep the ammonia/nitrites detoxified. As
long as you are using Prime as directed, there is no harm in adding it this frequently for an extended period of
time. Every 24 hours should not really be necessary, as it will remain active for up to 48 hours.
Material safety data sheets (MSDS) for water conditioner products (links)
Ammolock: https://www.pondliner.com/downloads/ammolock_MSDS.pdf
Microbelift Ammonia Remover: https://www.microbelift.com/files/8012/6928/7971/MSDS-AMMONIAREMOVER.pdf
Microbelift: https://www.microbelift.com/files/9614/1530/7090/SDS_MICROBELIFT_SUPER_DECHLORINATOR__WATER_CONDITIONER.pdf
Prime - http://www.seachem.com/support/MSDS/Prime.doc.pdf
SAFE- http://www.seachem.com/support/MSDS/Safe.doc.pdf
Sodium thiosulfate (generic MSDS, available from different manufacturers): I used the pentahydrate form, as
this is what thechemistrystore.com sells, and what I have used: http://avogadro.chem.iastate.edu/MSDS/
Na_thiosulfate-5H2O.htm
Stress coat (API/Mars fishcare) - http://www.apifishcare.com/pdf/Stress_Coat_NG.pdf
Additional resource:
Information about sodium thiosulfate from one of our Koiphen Chemists, Dr. Roddy Conrad: http://
www.koiphen.com/forums/showthread.php?71618-Sodium-Thiosulfate-quot-Chlorine-amp-Chloramineremover-quot