Got me some ammonia!

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
nc_nutcase;4163477; said:
I agree, but it requires a ton of work doing a ton of water changes... No nee dto discourage people from taking it easy on themselves...
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I think daily or whatever constant water chemistry tests seems like a lot of work to me. I just go to my lfs and pick up a dozen or so giant danios and in about a month the tank is cycled, add some stability and its done in a week. no water changes needed. you cant kill a giant danio lol:D
 
ward1066;4163578; said:
I think daily or whatever constant water chemistry tests seems like a lot of work to me. I just go to my lfs and pick up a dozen or so giant danios and in about a month the tank is cycled, add some stability and its done in a week. no water changes needed. you cant kill a giant danio lol:D
Click to expand...


The use of Stability is somethign we haven't touched on in this thread and is a very reasonable option... It's a well documented product and if that method is desired then I'd encourage one to read the recently lengthy thread where multiple people shared details of their experience and suggestions...


The method you suggested of using a few Danios is a viable option. The experience of living in ammonia polluted water will shorten the lifespan of the Danios even if it doesn't kill them...

Once one justifies putting a fish through such an experience the next concern is at the end of a month or two, the tank will only contain enough bacteria to support the Danios... when additional fish are added additional spikes will result. So now one has to do the laborous heavy water changes or allowing the new fish to also suffer through the ammonia...


'Constant water testing' is commonly done but is by no means necessary... One could simply...

Dose to 2~3ppm originally...
Wait 5 days and test for nitrite... if nitrite is present add 1 ppm ammonia daily for a couple of weeks...
If not present wait 2 days and retest...

Most of us pretend that a fishless cycle is a complex science experiment... and we test rigorously trying to 'perfect' the process... but the minor details we often debate will at best change the speed at which the process takes by a a couple of days...

The benefit is that at the end of it all, you can add a full stock of fish and be confident there is sufficient bacteria to prevent any concerns of ammonia/nitrite spikes...


The suggestion of adding Stability or a comparible product is a wise one... suggesting one add human urine to the aquarium is, well, barbaric...
 
I used tha Ace 10% ammonia. I'm using Red Sea test kit which also requires 2 mixes and 15 wait time. I went ahead and did that tbsp. Let me check water.
 
After tbsp it's at .25 ppm... Is it possible my bio media already created beneficial bacteria? What should I do keep adding til 3 ppm? I gotta go to bed soon can't check during night.
 
check it again tomorow, trouble with fishless is if you add too much you kill all your good bacteria and your back to square one. its like trying to fool mother nature by being a mad scientist lol. flame suit on
 
cmoazz;4163808;4163808 said:
What should I do keep adding til 3 ppm?
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Yes.
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I went back this morning and checked my notes on my 100g fishless cycling.
It took 2 Tsp (teaspoon) to get to 3 ppm.
I have no sump, closed loop, 100 gallons total in the system.
After 4 days the ammonia started dropping and nitrites started building.
Every morning I add enough ammonia to get back to 3 ppm.
Day 5 thru 8 : added 1/2 Tsp / Nitrite .25
Day 9 thru 11: added 3/4 Tsp / Nitrite .50
Day 12 thru 13 : added 1 Tsp / Nitrite 1.0
Day 14 : added 1 Tsp / Nitrite .50 / 70% WC
Day 15 (Today) : added 1 Tsp / Nitrite 0
At this point the BB is converting 1 Tsp of 10% ammonia in 24 hrs.
If ammonia and nitrite test zero tommorrow and the next day I will be adding fish on Friday.

I share this with you as a real world, cuirrent example of how it should work.
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I feel like we are overlooking something fundamental.
Is it possible you have more water volume than you think ?
Do you have a sump ? If so how large ?

After rereading this entire thread and according to you, you added:
1 Tsp (teaspoon) 10 % ammonia @ 4:30 PM PST yesterday
1 Tbsp (tablespoon) 10 % ammonia @ 7:20 PM PST yesterday

Either you meant teaspoon not tablespoon or you are treating more than 120 gallons.
Four teaspoons should have been plenty to get your 120 to 3 ppm.

Contrary to some beliefs this is not brain surgery.
No fire suit is necessary just a little patience.

BTW : Ward1066 is correct if you add too much you are back to square one."
 
No sump. Just my tank and 2 x Rena XP3 canister filters and emperor 280. Renas are filled with ehiem media balls and tank has gravel and 2 driftwood in it. 2 heaters. That's it. I just checked it now it's .25 ammonia and .2 nitrite. What ya think?
 
Ahh Good ,you have nitrite.
Evidently your schedule is evenings.
I'm gonna jump out on a limb and say , add two (2) TSP (teaspoons) tonite. Buddy if this doesn't get you 2-3 ppm I will be amazed.
Tomorrow morning ,Check ammonia.Post the result. I'll have an answer for you when you get home from work.
Going to bed now. :)

edit: If you miss this tonight add the ammonia in the morning.
 
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