Amquel Plus water cond need info??

[Lisa]

Hi does anyone have any info on the product? (amquel Plus) I was told that is was a water conditioner and it also adds healthy bacteria as well?? i use stress zyme and a water conditioner but they are 2 different products, hope someone could help me, I have a 220g tank so I am tring to just use one product for this process. thanks :confused:

[Overawed]

I would beware of any product that removes ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. It can harm your bio filter. I have always used just straight water conditioner, so as not to harm the bio-filter.

I have no experience with the product, I just stay away from it.

[Lisa]

so you dont use any thing like stress zyme that adds bacteria??

[Fischfan13]

I have a question....
Why would you use a product that adds bacteria in an established tank?
The beneficial bacteria should already be multiplying in your tank...shouldn't it?
Bio-wheels, AquaClear sponges, Whisper sponges, Emperor filter pads, rings in your cannister...don't these already have the capability of harboring and breeding beneficial bacteria.

As for Amquel killing bacteria or doing harm to a bio-filter, is there any links that you have that support this....I would like to read up on that.

[Overawed]

well anything that kills ammonia nitrite and nitrate is doing the job that the bio-filter bacteria are already supposed to be doing. You rob those bacteria of their food source and they will die off, thereby crashing the bio-filter.

[Seedy]

I've used amquel for years and years as my primary water conditioner...we used it at the the lfs I worked at in high school, and I use it personally at home, it does not actually "remove" the toxins but somehow binds and "detoxifies" the ammonia/nitrates/chlorine(amine)....the "good bacteria" that make up your bio-filter can still use the "detoxified" chemicals for food, so it will not crash your bio filter...(but if you are trying to cycle a tank for the first time, I would use it very sparingly)...

To my knowledge Amquel + does not add bacteria...

Even though I use the "bacteria in a bottle" products when I set up a new tank... (like Cycle/bio-gaurd/etc) I put little faith in them and my attitude on them is..."well, I guess it cant hurt...." Maybe I'm just a sucker for buying the products...but I do have extremely little trouble (knock on wood) cycling tanks...

[Overawed]

ahh yes, the cycling process! How foolish of me! I am still staying away from it though :D

[Seedy]

What water conditioner do you use Overawed?

[PedroPSK]

I have used Amquel+ for over two years and my roommate used it for years at the lfs he used to work at. I am going to have to agree with Seedy. I don't use it too often as our parameters are usually pretty good, but I wouldn't say stay away from it.
:D

[Lisa]

ok so its more of a water conditioner? my tank has been running for about 6weeks and I test the water once a week and my tank didnt even cycle I think thats because I used the water and the filter from my smaller tank when I set up the 220g I also have a Ehim 2260 canister too, the small filter was only on for the first few weeks, now i have just the 2260 running. right now I use Big Als water conditioner and the Bio Support which says it adds bacteria to the water and they said to add it after every water change with the water conditioner, could I just use the Amquel? thanks everyone!

[Lisa]

or just tap water conditioner?

[Lisa]

here is a link for info on Amquel that was found...

http://novalek.com/kpd79.htm

[PedroPSK]

Thanks for the link Lisa - good info! :D

[z rock]

I highly recommend a water conditioner to someone that is on city water in the U.S.Conditioners convert ammonia,chloramines,and chlorine to a less harmful substance that the bio filter will eat.Good ones are Seachem Prime or Amquel +.Read the bottle.

None of the products above are for removal of ammonia,nitrate or nitrites.They do make products like Purigen,Nitra-zorb,and various nitrate sponges that are more for a reef tank to prevent algae.I guess it would be possilble to starve a bio-filter with these.

The only conditioner required for fresh water is one like Amquel+,or Prime.

The one for bio support is for cycling a new tank.At that point we need all the help we can get.After the tank has cycled they just make everything slimy and some my say they never do anything to begin with.

http://www.fishdoc.co.uk/water/ammonia.htm
http://www.mudomaha.com/water/chloramines.html#whatare

[tbrodale]

I have had the best luck with Stress Coat.

[PARROTT9668]

Try Novaqua instead.