In wondering about bringing down my nitrates I'm trying to weigh up between a nitrazorb pillow and Prime. Devs suggested Prime and I spoke with Sandy who said I should ask you guys in the US section as we don't often have it over here in UK. Does it act as a replacement for cycle AND tapsafe, or no?
Also, I've just remembered the lfs said that as the pillow takes out N'rate it puts back a little salt. Not sure how much, but now I have a snail I'd have to be sure it was safe. Any ideas? Decisions, decisions......

First, let me say that I am NOT an expert. I do use Prime as my water conditioner, and used it to bind ammonia and nitrItes during cycling, but I did not know that it helped with the nitrates at all? but hmmm, now that i am reading the bottle...

The front of the bottle says:

Removes Chlorine, Chloramines, Ammonia
Detoxifies NitrIte and NitrAte
Provides Slime Coat

But then the back mentions nothing about nitrAtes at all? Hmmm...

However, if it does help with nitrAtes, I don't think it actually gets rid of them, it may just help detoxify them so they are less harmful to the fish. My nitrate readings are high no matter how mucy Prime I use, but hopefully it is making them less harmful.

This is what it says on the back of the bottle, if that helps at all:

Prime is the complete and concentrated conditioner for both fresh and salt water. Prime removes chlorine, chloramine and ammonia. Prime converts ammonia into a safe, non-toxic form that is readily removed by the tank's bio-filter. Prime may be used during tank cycling to alleviate ammonia/nitrIte toxicity. Prime also promotes the productions and regeneration of the natural slime coat. Prime is non-acidic and will not impact Ph. Prime will not over-activate skimmers. use at start-up and whenever adding and replacing water.

DIRECTIONS **note that this is figured in LITERS except where noted**: Use 1 capful (5 ml) for each 200 L (50 gallons) of new water. For smaller volumes please note that each cap thread is approx. 1 ml. This removes approximately 0.5 mg/L ammonia, 3 mg/L chloramine or 4 ng/L chlorine. May be added to aquarium directly, but better if added to new water first. If adding directly to aquarium, base dose on aquarium volume. Sulfur odor is normal. (This means that it smells BAD!) For exceptionally high chloramine concentrations, a double dose may be used safely. To detoxify nitrIte in an emergency, up to 5 times normal dose may be used. If temperature is less than 30 C or 86 F and chlorine and ammonia levels are low, use hald a dose.

So the only place the bottle mentions nitrAtes is on the front. I hope it is helping with them, because that is where my current tank issues are.

I was not totally sure what you meant, but if you were asking if you can use Prime as both a water conditioner and to help your cycle, it doesn;t do anything to help your cycle along (as far as i know), but it does help detoxify the water so it is safer for the fish during cycling. If that makes sense...

I am sure one of the experts will be along soon and will probably have the answer for both of us! I have had great success using prime to help keep the cycle less stressful for the fish, and as a water conditioner. And one little bottle lasts forever if you don't have a huge tank! Good luck!

Wow Jen - v helpful Thanks for going to the trouble.

I definitely would go with Prime as my main water additive. I wasnt too impressed with Cycle. For the money, its not that great, in my opinion.