Seachem Prime and Flourish Clash?

[kingkew]

Hi all, I have just started planting in my new tank. Would like to add ferts from the start. I have just added Seachem Prime and almost added in Seachem Flourish just as I have thought of this.

Seachem removes heavy metals, and Flourish contains heavy metals such as cobalt, iron, copper, zinc and manganese.

Would both of them neutralize each other if added in at the same time?

I will be dosing Flourish Phosphorus and Excel right after posting this thread.

Please advice thank you!

Regards,
King

[Urban Aquaria]

Seachem Prime only helps to detoxify excess heavy metals in tap water, it doesn't remove it... the metals and minerals are still present, but just in non-toxic form, and the plants are still able to use them as nutrients (which is one of the benefits of regular water changes, as it can replenish some mineral and trace/micro nutrients in the water column).

The mineral contents in Flourish are also formulated specifically as fertilizer nutrients at safe levels and meant to be used by plants, so they don't clash.

[loupgarou]

http://www.tropicalfishkeeping.com/b...g-prime-96412/

I took this question to Seachem some time back when it came up in a thread, and I was told that Prime and Flourish used together would cause the minerals in Flourish to be rendered useless to plants. Prime they said is effective in all respects for 36-48 hours. Their advice was to wait at least 24 hours before using any nutrient supplement, or to be absolutely certain, 48 hours.

They did also say that the heavy metal detoxifying of Prime is geared to trace amounts, such as would normally be encountered in tap water, and not significant levels of any metal which Prime is not able to deal with.

I dose Flurish the day folllowing the water change (I don't use Prime, but my conditioner does detoxify heavy metals). May be over cautious, but I assume Seachem know their products.

also contradicting

http://www.seachem.com/support/forum...ead.php?t=2127

, Purigen is just fine to use in conjunction with Flourish and Flourish Trace. Of course, Prime is ideal for use with all of the Flourish products and with Purigen. Seachem really makes an effort to manufacture products that are both safe for use with one another and will not cancel each other out. This is one good reason for choosing a particular product line and sticking with it, rather than mixing a lot of products from different companies. We are very appreciative that you chose to go with Seachem, of course!

I think the reason for contradiction: while it affects flourish comp/trace, the levels from dosing flourish comp/trace overwhelms prime at that concentration anyway.
http://fins.actwin.com/aquatic-plant.../msg00416.html


seachem's dosing chart (presumably water change is on day 7, does not include any fertilisation on day 7), this could be coincidence though, rather than deliberate attempt to avoid a neutralising ferts.
http://www.seachem.com/support/PlantDoseChart.pdf

[Urban Aquaria]

Well, in the first link you posted, the chap wrote that he "was told" (but there is no actual link to the actual response from Seachem), so everything he writes seems to be based on his own interpretation, which seems like misunderstood info... because i've never seen any mention on the official Seachem FAQ threads about Prime rendering their own fertilizer products ineffective when dosed together, which would be really odd.

Alot of people confuse the term "detoxify" thinking that the minerals and elements disappear, but actually its still present for use by the plants, just in a non-toxic form.

It sounds like that guy simply wrote his own interpretation and explaination of the effects of Prime, but probably got abit confused about how the actual effects really work. It'll be better to follow the official info from Seachem instead.

[loupgarou]

http://www.seachem.com/support/forum....php/t-94.html

Prime will have a minimal effect on Fe and Mn. If this is still a concern they can use Prime and wait 24 hours prior to putting the treated water in the tank. After 24 hours Prime will no longer effect the Fe and Mn.

http://www.tropicalfishkeeping.com/b...-117942/page2/

by another user other than byron

1. Can plants still use de-toxifyed metals? Yes/No or to what degree?
2. Is this the reason Seachem manufacturers other supplements like iron and trace elements to name two?
3. How can Flourish be a complete fertilizer if a fishkeeper uses Prime that affects the heavy metals that are listed in the Flourish?

1. Prime removes heavy metals by precipitating them out of solution, therefore, they are no longer available. Our research shows that heavy metals can quickly build up in plants cells because they are not utilized as quickly as other important elements, thus causing the plants to decline.

2. Yes, we produce individual products that supply the necessary elements for healthy and happy plants. When you dose these elements separately, you can be much more precise and provide the plants with exactly what they need.

3. The Prime is typically used to detoxify heavy metals at typical concentrations found in tap water. As long as you are not dosing the Prime at the exact same time as you dose the Flourish, there is no need to worry about precipitating out any elements found in Flourish.

so make of it what you will. maybe have to post on seachem's site to get an official confirmation, rather than a cut and paste of someone's email.

[Urban Aquaria]

I see... okay, i stand corrected on the effects of Prime on the nutrient content in Flourish fertilizers. Looks like its better not to dose them together at the same time. Thanks for posting the info.