RE: [RML] Amquel

Gary Lange (rainbowfish4u2 at yahoo.com)
Thu, 8 Sep 2005 08:41:07 -0700 (PDT)

Julie, I wouldn't be so concerned about Amquel except for that many have used it in the process of collecting fish and many of them in SA and west Africa, soft water areas. If there is a problem I want to show that I'm seeing those results too and that we might be better served using something else instead. My experiences of finding some very soft water in New Guinea had me concerned about what you had said about Amquel. For native fish collecting (in the MO area) we routinely double and even probably 5x or higher dose. No one is usally measuring, just squirting. Also, when available we're adding ice to the buckets to try to maintain the same temperature. That ususally also has chloramines in it if made locally so needs to be treated. But the minnows & darters collected usually come from fairly hard water streams so we never observed the results that you spoke of. I don't have a lot of buffering capacity in my local water so I thought that a 3x amount should cause the same
problems and the pH should drop. I also didn't wait so I'll have to do this next time and also work with some RO at specific ppm hardness. The powered material isn't very handy for collecting as a little goes a real long ways and I'm sure we'd end up overdosing.

The guy John? that invented Amquel, I can't remember his name right now, from Kansas City also invented the stuff out there call "Ultimate". It is a blend of the "stuff" from Amquel and Novaqua, or the best of both worlds as far as dechlors are concerned. It appears that Kordon wasn't interested in picking up that product so he sold the rights to Hikari and they are now selling it. Have you found any problems with that causing low pH problems in your soft water? I was wondering if he fixed the problem with his next invention. If not I guess I'll have to give it a check out too. I think it's very adventageous to use an ammonia remover when collecting fish as they always dump in the bag. Even with frequent water changes before bagging they always make a mess so the anti ammonia stuff is helpful.

cheers,

gary
Julie Zeppieri <bowluvr at hotmail.com> wrote:
Hey Gary,

Please remember a couple things about my water vs yours. Mine is basically
RO from the tap. I have had unbuffered aquariums go down to pH 2.8 w/out me
realising (the Apistos were very happy, but the java moss turned yellow and
died, so I tested). I am not the oly one, and it happened when I worked at
the local wholesaler's as well. I tested with our meter and YIKES!! With
your RO water, be sure to aerate and let it sit. It works its magic over
time, not immediately.

The whole thing about Amquel being unsafe in this type of unbuffered water
actually came from the dude who invented the stuff, and only really applies
to the stuff you buy in liquid form. The dry powder form of Amquel is
supposed to be safe. MOST situations liquid Amquel is fine, and so this is
only a warning for those who may have low buffers and delay water changes,
or wish to use it to ship fish in already low-pH water. Don't do this. Most
other uses it is fine. I used it for YEARS with no probs but since I now
keep small amounts of crushed coral in even tanks with discus, I am now more
careful. :-)

Oh, and FWIW, I do have a friend who has an allergy to a dechlor (or several
really). She is allergic to Aloe Vera, and this is an ingredient in many
commercial dechlorinators now. Stress Coat by Jungle is one that is common
here. However, in this case I believe it is an organic in the tank. Just a
hunch tho. Please, do test. :-)

Julie <'><


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