Seachem Prime

Overview: Seachem Prime is a liquid water conditioner that will remove harmful chlorine, chloramine and detoxify other harmful elements found in tap water. It is best to use Prime in new water before it is added into aquarium tanks.

Prime is a 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. Use at start-up and whenever adding or replacing water.

Prime also contains a binder which renders ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate non-toxic. It is very important to understand how those two functions work together. All dechlorinators operate through a chemical process known as reduction. In this process, toxic dissolved chlorine gas (Cl₂) is converted into non-toxic chloride ions (Cl-). The reduction process also breaks the bonds between chlorine and nitrogen atoms in the chloramine molecule (NH₂Cl), freeing the chlorine atoms and replacing them with hydrogen (H) to create ammonia (NH₃).

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 promotes the natural production and restoration of the slime coat rather than relying on artificial or non-native slime compounds.