SEACHEM Online Shop

Hi everyone!

Our Seachem Online Shop is now fully loaded and operational!!!
Easy navigation, fully secure and nationwide economical shipping options...

You can find the shop here:
www.aQuaria.co.za/SHOP

!! Happy Shopping !!

 

Hi Bryan

Congrats and thanks.

I looked at the Seachem purigen and the description of what the product does. As I understand it, it removes ammonia, nitrites and nitrates very effectively. That is what interest me. The question however is, how will it influence my bio filter? Will it kill off my established bacteria by starving them to death? My bio filter is very effective and my NH3/4 and NO2 readings is minimal to zero. NO3 however is another story and require regular, biggish water changes. So I am tempted to try Purigen, but would not like to do so at the expense of my bio bacteria.

Second question. I see you use it in a fine filter bag. Is this bag placed in the canister filter?

Thanks

Tom

 

very nice!

 

great stuff, as I usually buy my fert tabs from the US/UK

 

@JungleAquatics
Will these products be also available at the shop or is this only through the web site?

 

you will definitely be getting a call from me around the 25th

 

I've never known it to remove nitrates. Rather contact the suppliers with this type of question.

It's chemical filtration... so yes, you put it in the last stage of your filter.

 

@TomK
Purigen removes disolved organic compounds (DOC), and not any of the things you mentioned.

However, you need to understand the chemical processes in an aquarium. As a high-level, basic explanation, bacteria will break down the DOC and larger organic material. Breakdown of proteins result in release of ammonia in the water, which in turn will become nitrite, and eventually nitrate. So if you remove ALL the organics, you will have no ammonia, nitrite or nitrate as a result of the chemical breakdown.

Purigen does not directly remove these, but it removes DOC and thus you will have less ammonnia, etc. It also does not remove ALL of the DOC; this is not possible.

What does this mean in reality? It allows you to establish a balance in your aquarium pretty easily, but then you need to keep the Purigen in your filter and keep recharging it. Lot's of DOC will also cause algae in the presence of light, for example BGA.

 

Thanks @Laure. I see now I did not understand what I read. So, if I do not have an ammonia problem, this is not necessary? Or will it be worth it as a water polisher? And will it leach back once saturated?

 

@TomK

You should use it to control DOC, such as tannin stained water and other invisible dissolved organics, not to control ammonia. As far as I know, it does not leach like activated carbon, it merely stops functioning. You will see its colour change from off-white to light brown. At this stage, you should remove it and recharge it. The instructions on the Seachem web are pretty clear, so have a read through those.

 

Hi Tom,
Purigen actually works to support the biofilter by controlling organic nitrogenous waste; it will not starve the beneficial bacteria that are present. Purigen itself does not have a direct impact on the ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels; instead it removes the organics that serve as precursors to these waste by-products. Ultimately, for nitrate removal, it is imperative that there are many colonies of anaerobic bacteria (those that require oxygen-deficient zones). It is very important to have a porous biomedia that has a lot of internal surface area on which these bacteria can live. Purigen is meant to be used in conjunction with biofiltration (SEACHEM Matrix, SEACHEM DeNitrate) for long-term control of ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates. Please take note that Purigen alone will not have a direct impact in the reduction of nitrates.

The Bag is a 200 micron mesh bag needed for Purigen as the grain size is very small and will pass through a normal filter sock.

Hope this helps!

 

Yes we are SEACHEM Gold (soon to be PLATINUM :nuts dealers so 90% is stocked on floor but just phone in a few days before to confirm stock levels or for me to pull in for you.

 

Thanks Bryan, Laure explained it to me. But now you have to explain the quotes above. How do you do it? How do you create the anaerobic area and how do you use the DeNitrate?

 

@TomK

Google "diy denitrator filter"...it is a terribly complicated system and takes quite a long time to establish equilibrium. Marine guys use something called a deep sand bed (DSB) in a sump to create anaerobic filtration. Google that also if you are interested in the process. Simple and cheap way to "denitrate" is to do regular water changes.