Since ammonium hydroxide is just ammonia+water, can ammonium hydroxide be used to dose aquariums with light bio-loads? If so, is there a per-gallon rule?
Dosing with ammonium hydroxide?
- Thread starter her209
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im assuming to cycle it and that's a good question i would like to know myselfaclockworkorange;4457377; said:
If the tank has a properly cycled filter, then the ammonia will be broken down to nitrate just as if it were fish waste. I have done this in a tank with no fish just to keep the filter cycled and provide the plants with some nitrogen while I waited to stock it. However, it sounds like you're talking about adding ammonia to a tank that already contains fish. There's a very good chance you will poison/stress/kill your fish if you just add straight ammonia to your tank. You might want to look into using some kind of liquid fertilizer instead.
^^+1^^ You're better off with a commercial name brand fertilizer. Ammonia/ammonium dosing can be tricky to do without risking the lives of your fish. Your tanks PH will greatly influence the ratio of ammonium to free ammonia in the water, making safe dosing unpredictable.
If I remember correctly, its supposed to be ammonia where if you shake the bottle and it doesn't foam at the top. Then its supposed to be ok.
BTW why do you need to dose your tank with ammonia? Are you cycling a new water and filter?
BTW why do you need to dose your tank with ammonia? Are you cycling a new water and filter?
Yes, you're right. I was going to do this in a tank with fish. I've been thinking it over and perhaps it would be better to dose in a separate tank with a cycled filter, and then slowly add the water to the main tank after the ammonia has been converted to nitrate. Also, as I understand it, the separate tank water will have a lower pH as a result for the nitrification process.bob965;4457564; said: