Cycling question

[alter40]

I posted this question in my planted tank journal thread but I thought I would post a thread just for this.

I'm going to be starting my tank tomorrow hopefully and I'm going to be doing a fishless cycle by adding in ammonia. I know I need to use 100% ammonia for the cycle. I have been to 4 or 5 different grocery stores and can't find anything that seems to say 100% and the closest thing that I have found has ammonium hydroxide and surfactant. Will this work or not?

 

[MadridKid]

Ask your LFS...I'm pretty sure Wal-Mart has it though...Don't ask why...

 

[tom91970]

You do not want surfactants in the ammonia...just 100% ammonium hydroxide. Try a hardware store if you can't find it at.

I used the Wal-Mart brand and found out later it has surfactants. I think I told you last night that I used it with no ill effects to the tank but I wouldn't doing it knowingly.

 

[alter40]

I will have to look at the hardware store tomorrow and see if they have it. If they don't I might have to do a fish-in cycle or come up with some other plan.

 

[MissFishy]

I found mine at ACO Hardware. You can call around and ask, that might save some driving. Most grocery stores sell ammonia with soap/color/scents in it.

 

[alter40]

But surfactants are bad for sure then right? I have an ACE Hardware just around the corner so if what I got is wrong I will go there before I set things up tomorrow.

 

[tom91970]

But surfactants are bad for sure then right? I have an ACE Hardware just around the corner so if what I got is wrong I will go there before I set things up tomorrow.

Yep...it's some kind of detergent. Shake the bottle hard; if it foams or fizzes it contains surfactants.

 

[alter40]

I did find some ammonia at ACE hardware, but I haven't bought it yet. The front of it said 10% ammonia janitorial strength. It didn't have any other lists of other chemicals in it. I gave the bottle a hard shake and it didn't show any bubbles, but I didn't see a phone number or a list of what the other 90% was in the bottle. Does this sound like it will work or not?

 

[Lotus]

If it's a 10% solution, then the other 90% is water.

 

[alter40]

So it would work for what I need then right?

 

[Lotus]

Yes, it will be fine.

 

[alter40]

Thank you lotus. I will stop and pick it up and get my cycle going.

 

[tom91970]

So it would work for what I need then right?

No!!!!! For the love of Nemo, nooooo...

That janitorial strength ammonia's 90% H2O portion will mutate your fish if you add it to your tank! Why would you want to put some nasty ol' H2O in your aquarium?!?!?! Arrrrgggghhhh.

Better yet, try and chemically separate or sift the two apart.

 

[alter40]

Its not janitorial strength already used ammonia. Its fresh and clear still. I'm not going to steal it out of his mop bucket or anything haha

 

[MissFishy]

Yeah, be careful and only add it drop by drop, the first time I did an ammonia cycle I added WAY too much ammonia. It only takes a few drops to get the levels up!

 

[alter40]

Alright will do. I went back down a little bit ago and it seems like they closed early so I will have to pick it up tomorrow. I'm just glad I found something that would work so I wouldn't have to do a fish-in cycle. I want to let the tank cycle correctly.
During the cycle how often should I test my water?

 

[tom91970]

Its not janitorial strength already used ammonia. Its fresh and clear still. I'm not going to steal it out of his mop bucket or anything haha

haha...actually I wasn't referring to "used" water from a janitor's bucket. Guess I should have been clearer in my post. Oh, well...I had just woke up and still thinking a little fuzzy.

 

[alter40]

You were just messing around though right? haha I want to make sure this is going to be ok for my tank.

 

[tom91970]

Yep...just giving you a hard time! Let's see...10% ammonia, 90% water. Why would you want water in your tank? lol

 

[alter40]

Thats what I had figured lol I just wanted to double check with you to make sure. haha