Aquarists are now having more trouble with water quality than ever before. Much of this is based on municipal water districts having to deal with water sources more contaminated with bacteria, nitrogenous waste products, etc. than ever before. The result is that water districts are using more chemical additives and delivering water of poorer quality than in the past. Therefore, fish keepers need ways to improve water quality for their aquariums and ponds, and to make fewer water changes to minimize the risks when adding new tap water. AmQuel Plus fills these needs by controlling many problems associated with the nitrogen cycle and removing unwanted toxins introduced by municipal water districts.
AmQuel Plus does not interfere with the nitrogen biological cycle -- it simply makes nontoxic what is normally dangerously toxic to fish and aquatic invertebrates at every step of the cycle. This also means that AmQuel Plus cleans up the nitrogen-based organics that accumulate and are a problem as the water ages in the aquarium or pond. AmQuel Plus lessens the need for water changes.
The amounts of toxic components removed by AmQuel Plus vary depending on water conditions. Because water conditions are impossible to predict, AmQuel Plus has been formulated to remove a minimum of these toxic components under all possible aquarium conditions. For more exact results, the aquarist will have to perform water tests using the normally available water test kits such as Kordon's AquaTru Test kits. Note that when testing for ammonia you must use a kit based on the salicylate method, not nesslers. AmQuel Plus will not interfere with pH, nitrite or nitrate test kits.
The recommended dose for AmQuel Plus is 1 teaspoon (which equals 5 ml) for each 10 gallons of water to be treated. This dose will instantly break the bond between chlorine and ammonia found in chloramines, then remove the chlorine, remove at least 1.2 ppm of ammonia, at least 2 ppm of nitrite, and at least 13 ppm of nitrate as well as remove many other toxic nitrogen compounds. All this is accomplished in a single dose.
Use AmQuel+ for water changes, overcrowded aquariums and ponds, the control of toxic nitrogen compounds commonly found in water while the nitrogen cycle is established., as well as afterwards as nitrogen compounds accumulate in the aquarium and pond water.
PURPOSE AND BENEFITS
AmQuel+ is the latest development in state-of-the-art water
conditioning technology and is the next step beyond what the original AmQuel
product does. In the section in Kordon Product Data Sheet
KPD-80 "About Conditioners" find
"Comparison between Amquel and AmQuel+" to see the similarities and differences.
AmQuel+ has several fundamental purposes and benefits.
l. Its purpose in treating tap water when water is added or water changes are made is to detoxify chlorine and chloramines and its components (chlorine and ammonia) and to make the water safe for aquatic life free of these lethal toxins. (see in KPD-80 "About Conditioners" the section on "Problems When Using Water Conditioners...".
2. A primary purpose in aquariums and ponds is to protect aquarium and pond fishes and invertebrates by quickly eliminating (actually detoxifying) the harmful components of the biological nitrogen cycle - ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates without slowing the nitrogen cycle (see KPD-64 "Biological Filtration"), or interfering with the beneficial bacteria involved, or depriving these bacteria of their food.
3. Also, in overcrowded aquariums and ponds where waste products from the fishes, etc., quickly collect, it can rapidly detoxify toxic organics.
4. Another purpose is to detoxify organic compounds that accumulate in the aquarium and pond water over time, including noxious pheromones released by fish and aquatic invertebrates to signal and repel each other. This is specially important for reducing the frequency of needed water changes. Many larger freshwater and saltwater aquarium fishes release pheromones to establish territoriality and repel other fishes. This is particularly true in fresh water for cichlids and plectognath fishes (triggers, filefish, puffers, boxfish) in salt water.
Among AmQuel+ benefits are that it is easy to use and equally effective in fresh and salt water, and it does not affect the beneficial bacteria of the biological nitrogen cycle. AmQuel+ is compatible with all water conditioners and all Kordon medications and other medications on which it has been tested, and with all aquatic life - including live rock and reef tank inhabitants. Other benefits are that AmQuel+ does not affect pH (acidity and alkalinity), and does not discolor the water. AmQuel+ has a long indefinite shelf life expected to be many years.
Note: Amquel+ has an acerbic odor, but does not affect aquatic life, and the odor quickly disappears in use.
AMQUEL+ - HOW IT WORKS
See KPD-58
for how Kordon's AmQuel - the original ammonia remover - works. AmQuel+ is
similar in its actions, but with a different formula, and will be described in
greater detail when the patents pending are approved.
SPECIFICATIONS
Patents are pending for the formula and it is not available until the
patents are approved.
DOSAGE WITH LIQUID AMQUEL+ PRODUCTS
For control of chlorine alone in public water supplies (e.g, tap water) add
one teaspoon (5 ml) per 100 gallons of fresh or salt water to remove in excess
of what is in public water supplies (public water supplies have less than 3 ppm
chlorine).
For all other purposes use measurements in proportion to a "Standard Dose" of AmQuel+, which is one teaspoon (5 ml) per 10 gallons of fresh or salt water, or one liquid ounce (25 ml) per 60 gallons of water, or one cup (8 liquid ounces = 200 ml)) per 480 gallons of water, or one pint (16 liquid ounces = 400 ml) per 960 gallons of water. For other measurements estimate the amounts needed, such as 1/4 teaspoon for 2.5 gallons of water, etc.
To remove chloramines (chlorine and ammonia combined) out of the tap from public water supplies add one Standard Dose (see definition above) to the water to break the bond between the chlorine and ammonia, to remove all the chlorine, and to remove all ammonia that may be in public water supplies. Only one dose is needed for removing all chloramines and their components from public water supplies.
To control the toxic organic nitrogenous compounds of ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate and other toxic organics that build up in aquariums and ponds from the excretion of body wastes by fishes, invertebrates, bacteria and other aquatic organisms start with a Standard Dose (see definition above). This Standard Dose will remove (detoxify) at least 1.2 mg/L (= approx.1,2 ppm) of all ammonia compounds, at least 2.0 mg/L (=2.0 ppm) of nitrites, and at least 13 mg/L (=13 ppm) of nitrates. We recommend only one standard dose per 24 hour period. The removal of these compounds will happen within five minutes, or slightly longer for ammonia at a higher pH above 7.5. It is important to understand that the amounts of organic compounds removed may vary with differing water conditions. The amounts indicated above are the minimums that AmQuel will detoxify, and what is removed may be up to several times higher. Use accurate test kits to check how much of each compound is being removed when using multiple doses (see the section in KPD-80 on "Water Quality Test Kits" under "Problems When Using Water Conditioners..."). Be aware that test strips may be insufficient to provide accurate readings; check liquid and powder reagents to be sure that they are not out-of-date.
STABILITY
So far as is known for this new formulation, AmQuel+ is stable indefinitely
when stored in a cool, dark area away from heat and direct sunlight. Amquel+
should be kept tightly closed when not in use.
COMPATIBILITIES
AmQuel+ is harmless to plants, fishes, invertebrates, and other aquatic life
forms. This product is safe for use in aquariums and ponds and will not
interfere with biological filtration or its bacteria. When AmQuel+ detoxifies
ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and other organic compounds, it breaks the links of
molecules apart. The bacteria do not know the difference and eat the parts, just
as they would the whole original compounds. AmQuel+ may affect the dyes in
certain types of cotton fabrics. This happens for the same reason that Ammonia
test kits using the Nessler reagents do not work with AmQuel or AmQuel+. These
products reduce the coloring agents used in the Nessler reaction test kits, and
apparently in a very small selection of cotton based fabrics.
CONTRAINDICATIONS
AmQuel+ should not be added to water containing active, therapeutic dosages
of chemical dyes such as methylene blue, acriflavine, malachite green, and
potassium permanganate, since AmQuel+ will interfere with their proper
performance. Combining Amquel+ with these dyes will not result in toxic chemical
by-products. AmQuel+ can be useful in those instances when it is desirable to
terminate a treatment with a chemical dye. This is particularly useful with
potassium permanganate because Amquel+ (and AmQuel) removes the coloring in the
water instantly.
AmQuel+ is compatible to use with all water quality test kits except for the ammonia test kit that uses Nessler reagents that read in shades of amber or yellow, and the oxygen test kit that uses Winkler reagents. Residual AmQuel+ and its reaction products are incompatible with the Nessler-and Winkler type reagents, resulting in false, high ammonia and low oxygen concentration readings. Ammonia test kits using salicylate-type reagents are appropriate for accurate test results. Excellent examples of high quality salicylate test kits with technical grade reagents are Kordon's AquaTru Test Kit #35970 for salt water and #35980 for fresh water. Any oxygen test kit other than those using Winkler's method is compatible with AmQuel+. For further information on the effects on medications and test kits see in KPD-80 "Problems When Using Water Conditioners...".
TOXICITY
Amquel+ is non-toxic when used as directed. Many hundreds of kinds of freshwater
and marine fishes, aquatic invertebrates and plants have been exposed to
multiple full doses of Amquel during extended test periods and general use with
no toxic effects. Amquel+ does not reach toxic levels even in cases of
accidental or purposeful overdosing. AmQuel+ is non-toxic to humans and no
special precautions are necessary in handling this product.
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© 2003, Novalek