2Hr Aquarist APT Pure

Can I just change water the simple way?

Of course, if you mean just draining the tank and refilling. It does not change the way APT Pure works. We recommend changing water The 2Hr Way because if you are making the effort to change water, we find that going the extra mile to siphon the surface detritus makes a real difference in keeping algae under control. You can certainly choose whichever method you prefer.

How do I use APT Pure?

For most tanks, simply add it into the tank, before adding tap water.
If you are keeping more sensitive fish or livestock, it is best to pre-mix it with tap water, before adding the water into the tank.

How much to dose?

During water change, add 1ml for every 60L of tap water.
To detoxify ammonia in a tank, add up to 5ml for every 60L of tank water.

What is the smell?

The smell of garlic or sulphur is perfectly normal. It comes from the combination of compounds that make up APT Pure. 

Expiry Date?

The compounds in APT Pure have technically an indefinite shelf life when properly stored. However, once opened and exposed to the environment, fungi spores and microbes may lead to contamination. As a guide, we recommend finishing the product within 2 years of opening.

Can I use APT Pure with Purigen?

Yes. APT Pure does not contain amine-based compounds. 

My Ammonia Test gives an odd result?

Due to way APT Pure binds Ammonia, most test kits (both Nessler and salicylate based kits) will not work properly. You will most likely see a cloudy brown result that does not match against the color charts provided.

Would it affect fertilizers or plant nutrition?

APT Pure does not make nitrates (or nitrites) disappear from the tank. It binds them into a form that is harmless to livestock, but digestible by plants and bacteria. So within normal use, it does not affect fertilizers or more specifically the availability of nutrients for plant uptake.

Do I really need to use a water conditioner?

Chlorine (Cl2) is present in tap water in most countries. It is used to kill bacteria, viruses and other microbes in public water systems. However, this chemical also damages the gills of fish and other aquatic animals if present. Most public tap water contain between 0.2 to 2ppm (parts per million) of Chlorine. Importantly, the level of Chlorine and Chloramine can vary by location and time of day. So even if your tap water measures zero Chlorine today does not mean it is always zero.

What is Chloramine?

Chloramine performs the same disinfection functions as Chlorine in public water systems. Chloramine is a more stable form of Chlorine - formed by bonding Chlorine with ammonia or other amines. Most anti-chlorine products do break down Chloramine. However, breaking down Chloramine releases it from its ammonia-bond, resulting in the release of ammonia into the water column. Thus, it is necessary to have an ammonia binder present to prevent the ammonia spike from harming livestock. Ammonia binders typically reduce the toxicity of ammonia by binding it to larger compounds - which are then digested by the biological filtration system of the tank. Not all anti-chlorine products contain ammonia binders - if your tap water contains chloramine, it is highly recommended to use an anti-chlorine product that also binds ammonia.

Can I leave my tap water to sit, and allow the Chlorine to dissipate on its own?

Chlorine does dissipate by itself over 24 to 48 hours. The time taken depends on surface area of the water body in question, whether there is turnover etc. Boiling the water for an hour or so can speed up the process, but may not be a practical approach. Chloramine is much more stable and not does dissipate naturally. Activated carbon removes both Chlorine and Choramine, but require good contact time for complete removal.