• AmQuel+ is a unique water conditioner providing actions needed for safe aquarium and pond keeping for fishes and invertebrates (snails, shrimp, coral reef animals, etc.) in fresh, brackish, and salt water
• nontoxic and saves on the need for as many water changes as would otherwise be required
• removes 33 ppm (= 33 mg/L) of all chlorines including those chlorines in chloramines from the water
• removes/detoxifies all of the kinds of toxic nitrogen compounds in the water
• removes/detoxifies all forms of ammonia/ammonium/nitrites/nitrates from the water, including ammonia in chloramines
• because of its stability and reliability reduces the need for water quality tests for chlorine, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate
• removes/detoxifies toxic pheromones from the water
• does not affect the water's pH (acidity/basicity)
• does not interfere with the beneficial nitrifying bacteria or their food sources
• does not interfere with the beneficial sludge-removing bacteria or their food sources
• is completely amine-free
• is fully compatible with NovAqua+and is recommended for use together in aquarium and pond water keeping
• is safe to use with other water conditioners and organic herbal fish medications
• is not affected by filtration or activated carbon filters
• Made in U.S.A.
  
  

AMQUEL+ AS THE PREMIER AMQUEL PRODUCT
To avoid confusion it should be recognized that there are two products with the AmQuel® name - the original AmQuel which Kordon has been providing since 1985, and the recently invented product AmQuel+ (also referred to as AmQuel Plus) which is based on a much improved new chemical formula.  AmQuel+ is the latest development in state-of-the-art water conditioning technology and is far beyond what the original AmQuel product does. AmQuel+ does all that AmQuel does and a significant number of additional tasks as well.
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PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
AmQuel+ is a remarkable new discovery that is making fresh and saltwater aquarium and pond keeping much safer and simpler.  It is doing this by safely detoxifying natural nitrogen compounds in the water, including nitrites and nitrates that before could not be effectively detoxified.  Thereby, the use of AmQuel+ greatly reduces the need for continual water changes, and provides far better water conditions for fishes, aquatic invertebrates, and other life in fresh and salt water.   

AmQuel+ is useful for the beginners who are novices in knowing how to establish new aquariums and ponds through the first months, as well as for the advanced aquarists and pond keepers in their easily keeping water safe long term for fishes and other aquatic life.

AmQuel+ (also referred to as AmQuel Plus) is a recent patented chemical invention that has the extraordinary ability to make the "nitrogen cycle" (involving ammonium/ammonia/nitrites/nitrates) totally nontoxic in aquarium and pond keeping, without interfering with the cycle's  process in any way, and without interfering with the beneficial bacteria that are involved with the cycle.  Further, AmQuel+ detoxifies/removes all chlorine and chloramines added to the water by public water utilities and all of the toxic nitrogen compounds that can appear in aquarium and pond water over time, thereby making water changes less necessary, and providing a safer environment for fishes and aquatic life. 

One of the foremost benefits of using AmQuel+ in aquariums and ponds is in its total detoxification of all phases of the nitrogen cycle (see Kordon article Biological Filtration), while the cycle goes through to completion without any interferences to aquariums or ponds, to the nitrifying bacteria, or to the water filtration.  Thereby, AmQuel+ makes aquarium and pond keeping easier, greatly aiding the aquarist and pond keeper. 

AmQuel+ reduces the problems with "new tank [and pond] syndrome," which in great part are caused by the nitrifying bacteria in the water.  AmQuel+ makes biological filtration much safer by detoxifying its natural processes.  AmQuel+ does all this without having to be removed, once it is put into the water.  It remains totally nontoxic to aquatic life.

AmQuel+ should be used for setting up aquariums or ponds, 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.

Fresh water is a precious commodity and becoming in ever shorter supply.  By using AmQuel+ fewer water changes are needed in aquarium and pond keeping, thereby conserving a valuable resource.  For marine aquarists AmQuel+ greatly helps in decreasing the number of water changes needed, thereby saving on having to prepare sea salt mixes or natural sea water. 

FURTHER PURPOSES AND BENEFITS
An immediate purpose for using AmQuel+ in treating tap water when water is added or water changes are made is to detoxify quickly all 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 Kordon article "About Water Conditioners" the section on "What Are The Problems When Using Water Conditioners..."

•   A primary purpose in using AmQuel+ 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 "Biological Filtration ") , or interfering with the beneficial bacteria involved, or depriving these bacteria of their food.
• AmQuel+ rapidly detoxifies toxic organics, which is very important in overcrowded aquariums and ponds where waste products from the fishes, etc., quickly collect. 
• Another purpose of AmQuel+ is to detoxify nitrogen 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 toxic pheromones to establish territoriality and repel other fishes. This is particularly true in fresh water for larger cichlids, and for larger marine plectognath fishes (triggers, filefish, puffers, boxfish) in salt water.
• Among the benefits of AmQuel+ are that it is easy to use and equally effective in fresh and salt water. AmQuel+ does not affect the beneficial bacteria of the biological nitrogen cycle. AmQuel+ is compatible with all water conditioners and all Kordon non-chemical medications and other non-chemical medications on which it has been tested, including organic herbal medications, 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 at full effectiveness that is expected to be many years.
  

DOSAGE WITH LIQUID AMQUEL+ PRODUCTS
Use measurements in proportion to a Standard Dose which is one teaspoonful  (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 10 drops per gallon using a medicine dropper, or 1/4 teaspoon for 2.5 gallons of water.  For further information see the Kordon article "Standard Dose For Liquid Treatments".  When treating the water, the total volume of water should be treated per dose, not just the amount of water added. 

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 ppm (=13 mg/L) of nitrates.

The use of one standard dose of AmQuel+ for the amount of water involved is recommended per 24 hour period during the first days for total or major water changes, and at least once a week for the entire water volume in regular use, whether water changes are made or not. The number of treatments to be made over time depends upon how crowded the water conditions are with fish and/or other aquatic life.  The AmQuel+ will penetrate throughout the water, including the water in the gravel, sand, or other bottom material.  If excess AmQuel+ is put in the water, it will remain active until chorines, chloramines, or nitrogen compounds appear in the water that it can detoxify. 

Water out of the tap from public water supplies contains up to 4 ppm = parts per million (= 4 mg/L) of chlorine, as per the U.S. EPA Environmental Protection Agency, and usually less than 1 ppm ammonia/ammonium. When chloramines are present, AmQuel+ breaks the chloramines bond apart, and one standard dose of AmQuel+ removes all the chlorine (it is capable of removing up to 33 ppm chlorine, and up to 1.2 ppm or more ammonia/ammonium).  Therefore, only one dose is usually needed, and at most two doses, for removing all chloramines and their chlorine and ammonia components from all public water supplies. 

The removal of these compounds when dosing with AmQuel+ will happen mostly within five minutes, or slightly longer for ammonia in water with a higher pH above 7.5. The slight remainder, if any, of nitrogen compounds will be removed within 24 hours.  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 to many times higher.  

For example, tests have shown that when ammonia and nitrite are negligible or absent from the water, a standard dose of AmQuel+ can detoxify/remove up to 85 ppm nitrates.  In fact, when various toxic nitrogen compounds are in low amounts or absent, the AmQuel+ then concentrates on removing the remainder of nitrogen compounds present.  If there are not sufficient toxic nitrogen compounds present, the AmQuel+ will remain dormant until they are present, and then will detoxify/remove them to the extent of its activity.  AmQuel+ does not affect the pH (acidity/basicity) of the water.

DIRECTIONS FOR USE
As a general rule, when using tap water in which chlorine and chloramines are present, but not nitrites, nitrates or other organics -- then it is safe to use the less expensive AmQuel. If there is the possibility of nitrites, nitrates and other toxic organics being involved in the water, then AmQuel+ is recommended.

For aquariums and ponds add AmQuel+ to the water at the recommended dosages as described above. Since AmQuel+ rapidly spreads through the water, no special agitation is needed.  Its action on chlorines will be in seconds.  Most of the reactions on other nitrogen compounds in the water will be over the first five minutes, and the slight remainder will be detoxified over the next 24 hours. 

As described in "About Water Conditioners"under the articles "Which Water Conditioner Should Be Used...." not all the conditioning needed for water is done by AmQuel+ or any one other single water conditioner. When new water is added, usually AmQuel+ should be used with Kordon's NovAqua+, as explained in "About Water Conditioners"  It is recommended that as standard practice both be used to condition fully new water, such as out of the tap from public water suppliers.

COMPATIBILITIES
AmQuel+ is harmless to plants, fishes, invertebrates (including corals and sea anemones), 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, nitrites, nitrates, and other organic compounds, it breaks the links of molecules apart. The nitrifying bacteria do not know the difference and eat the parts, just as they would the whole original compounds.

Where AmQuel+ is particularly useful is in its detoxification of all nitrates in the water. There are not sufficient bacteria in the aquarium (fresh or salt water) and pond water to do this. In the past the only way to get rid of nitrates from aquariums and ponds was by water changes.  Now this can be done in a few minutes with AmQuel+. This leaves the main reason for making water changes (now needed less frequently)  to replacing trace elements in the water.  For this Kordon's fresh or saltwater VitaTrace can be used that replenishes both the trace elements and vitamins needed in the water.

AmQuel+ is recommended to be used with Kordon's NovAqua+ because they mainly do different functions that collectively are needed in aquarium and pond keeping.  NovAqua+ is most important for treating tap water that comes from public water utilities that has accumulated toxic metals from water pipes, and in providing health aids to the fishes and aquatic invertebrates.  See NovAqua+ for further information.  AmQuel+ and NovAqua+ are provided as separate products because they cannot be combined and stored together, without loss of efficacy.

AmQuel+ is compatible with all Kordon water conditioners (such as Kordon Fish Protector (=Polyaqua), EZ4U™ products, Instant Water Conditioners and Tabs, Zym-Bac™, Tidy-Tank™, Tidy Turtle™, organic preventatives and treatments (including Kordon organic treatments Ich-Attack™, Prevent-Ich™, Rid-Fungus™), and water clarifiers (Trans-Clear™, Sea-Clear™).  AmQuel+ is compatible with the Kordon chemical treatments Formalin-3™, and Trifon™ (trichlorofon).

CONTRAINDICATIONS
AmQuel+ should not be added to water containing active, therapeutic dosages of chemical dyes such as methylene blue, acriflavine, malachite green, potassium permanganate, iodine, and acriflavine, 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 especially useful with potassium permanganate (see Kordon's Permoxyn) because AmQuel+ (and AmQuel) remove instantly the activity of this dye and its coloring of the water. 

Care should be taken when using the AmQuel products in the presence of cotton.  AmQuel+ and AmQuel may affect the dyes in a small number of certain types of cotton based fabrics. 

Use of AmQuel+ with organic herbal treatments:  responding to inquiries about the use of AmQuel+ with Kordon naphthoquinone treatments Ich-Attack, Rid-Fungus, and Prevent-Ich, it is safe to use all organic herbal treatments with AmQuel+ without interference with each other.  Also see above under Compatibilities.

Compatibility of AmQuel+ with chemical medications in the water: since AmQuel+ diminishes or removes certain dyes, it can be used to end treatments that use chemical dyes in medications, such as those using potassium permanganate (Kordon's Permoxyn), malachite green, methylene blue, acriflavine, and iodine.  It may take multiple doses for this to be accomplished.  The advantage is that AmQuel+ can dilute or eliminate the staining by the dyes of silicone glass sealants, submerged objects, and water.

Compatibility of AmQuel+ with water test kits:  since a significant number of water test kits for aquarium and pond keeping are inaccurate, this is an important issue for those trying to make water tests.  See Kordon Article "The Truth About Water Test Kits...", as well as other Kordon Articles on this subject listed on Kordon's home page.  AmQuel+ is completely compatible with all Kordon Aqua-Tru™ test kits (see the Kordon Articles on Water Quality Test Kits on Kordon's home page), because their reagents are full strength and scientific grade.
  
AmQuel+ is compatible to use with those water quality test kits on the market that are fully effective (see note below), except for the ammonia test kits that use Nessler reagents that read in shades of amber or yellow, and the oxygen test kits that use 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 (reading on a colorimetric scale from yellow to green to blue green) are appropriate for accurate test results.  A notable exception for what appears to be a Salicylate-type test kit that should not be used with AmQuel+ is the API (Aquarium Pharmaceuticals) ammonia test kit.  For reasons unknown to us, it is incompatible with AmQuel+.  Also it is important to read the Kordon Article "The Truth About Water Test Kits..."to have a basic understanding of the quality differences in test kits. 

Excellent examples of high quality Salicylate-type test kits with technical grade reagents are Kordon's AquaTru Ammonia Test Kit #35970 for salt water and #35980 for fresh water, as well as the AquaTru Master Test Kits. 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 the Kordon Article "About Water Conditioners. "

CAUTION
It has been reported by several users that if AmQuel+ or Pond AmQuel+ is accidentally spilled on certain types of clothing that they will
produce bleached spots.  It is recommended that care be taken in this regard.

CAUTION REGARDING THE USE OF AMQUEL+ IN AQUARIUMS

While AmQuel+ provides remarkably unique functions in rapidly and permanently removing/detoxifying the toxic nitrogen compounds in the water, including ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates, there are two factors in the use of AmQuel+ that some may find a detraction unless forewarned and alerted as to how to handle and overcome them. 

1.  AmQuel+ has an acerbic nontoxic odor that does not affect fishes and other aquatic life during the first minutes or hours of use until its odor is dissipated by its reactions in the water.  To some the odor is not noticed or of no consequence.  To others this odor is annoying.  The odor usually disappears quickly during use.  Whatever, considering that AmQuel+ easily and quickly eliminates irreversibly the toxic nitrogen compounds in the water that otherwise are difficult to deal with, this short-time distraction should be reasonable to accept.  Kordon is working on eliminating or at least reducing this odor as much as possible, without in any way interfering with the beneficial actions of the product in aquarium keeping. 
   
2.  AmQuel+ per dose uses, in the first seconds and minutes of application to the water, 0.3-0.4 ppm of oxygen out of the water.  This is a low amount of oxygen removal and under normal circumstances in aquarium and pond keeping is of no concern to fishes and other aquatic organisms.  However, if the water is way overcrowded so that the oxygen level is perilously close to being inadequate for fishes and other aquatic organisms, then adequate aeration of the water needs to be provided in the first minutes and occasionally in the first hours after the introduction of AmQuel+.

The only times that there have been concerns about this situation have been in aquariums that have been far too overcrowded with fishes and/or other aquatic life, while at the same time the aquarium are using an outside filter that spills the filtered water onto the surface of the water in the aquarium.  These "waterfall" type filters do not provide enough water circulation in crowded aquariums, even in normal water conditions.  Enough aeration can be simply supplied by the use of an airstone or a water pump to provide adequate oxygen in the water.  Just using the aquarium water filter as the sole means of aeration of the water in aquariums may not be enough, even for normal water conditions.  This is particularly true for those filters that are placed outside the aquarium and spill the water like a water fall onto the surface water of an aquarium.  While there will be enough oxygen in the surface water, the lower regions of the aquarium may be without sufficient water circulation and thereby have too little oxygen.  (For further information on the use of Kordon AmQuel+ in ponds, see the description for Kordon Pond AmQuel+ for further information.)

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.

The main potential interference that AmQuel+ has in aquarium keeping is that in the first several minutes of use the chemical reactions involved absorb 0.3-0.4 ppm = parts per million (which is about the same as 0.3-0.4 mg/L milligrams per liter) oxygen from the water.  Therefore, when using AmQuel+ be sure that there is plenty of aeration in the water.   In way overcrowded aquariums this can be an adverse factor.  However, under most conditions, this would only be a 5% or so temporary decrease in oxygen in the water for a few minutes, and would not be a factor.

It is recommended in the instructions for AmQuel+, including on the bottles, "always allow a 24 hour period between single dose applications."  The reason for this is that in overcrowded conditions where oxygen is in very short supply, there may be a problem with AmQuel+ removing 0.3-0.4 ppm oxygen from the water per standard dose and suffocating the fishes.  This is a rare occurrence, but when it happens it is a real loss in fish keeping. 

Under most pond and aquarium conditions this is not a problem, even when fairly crowded with fishes.  The few times that we have learned that AmQuel+ was of concern in removing oxygen was from aquarists who had considerably overcrowded tanks and were using a "waterfall" type filter as their sole aeration.  Waterfall filters spill the water on the surface of the water.  Such filters only aerate the top water layer and are not getting enough oxygen throughout the water. Waterfall filters do not circulate the water through the whole aquarium.  The same is true for ponds with fishes, which can have a similar problem when water is distributed entirely by waterfall(s) into the pond. 

What is needed is additional aeration, such as from an air pump and air stone(s) (see Kordon Mist-Air tm air stones) situated near the bottom that move the water upwards from the bottom of the aquarium or pond toward the surface, carrying out carbon dioxide and bringing in oxygen.  Or in ponds and larger aquariums a water pump can be used to circulate the water.  Either of these will add needed circulation of the oxygen in the water throughout the aquarium and pond.   

AmQuel+ does not affect pH. (Regular AmQuel may during use temporarily  lower pH moderately in water with a high pH, while AmQuel+ does not).  Nor do AmQuel or AmQuel+ alter elements in the water such as minerals or hardness.

Other Kordon Products Containing AmQuel+

For more information about AmQuel+ click on the following:

• AmQuel+ - How It Works, Compared to Regular AmQuel
• Specifications
• The Use of Water Test Kits with AmQuel+
• The Removal of Pheromones from the Water
• The Removal of Oxygen from the Water
• The Effect of AmQuel+ on RO REDOX POTENTIAL and ORP OXYDATION REDUCTION POTENTIAL
• Fish and Invertebrate Shipping and Holding for Shipment
• Fish and Invertebrate Field Collecting
• Stability
• What the Similarities and Differences Are Between AmQuel and AmQuel Plus
• Claims by Competitors and Consumers Regarding AmQuel Products