[Leopardfire]

I am about to start cycling my 10 and 20 gallon tanks, but I need some ammonia first. I went to wall mart, but the ammonia they had contained surfactants, which are bad for fish. Where is the best place to buy pure ammonia for cycling?

 

[vilmarisv]

Try a hardware store like Lowes or Home Depot

 

[LebronTheBetta]

Ace Hardware. That's where I got mine. It's full name is "Ammonia Janitorial Strength". I bought this big bottle of it for $2.99 and I'm cycling my 20 gallon with it. It seems to be 9/10ml for 2.0ppm. It's REALLY concentrated!!

 

[Leopardfire]

Thanks for the advice, I'll go get some this weekend. Should I add about 2 tsp a day to my 20 gallon to cycle it? I think that is 10 ml.

 

[Pilot00]

Sorry if it doesnt sound pretty nice, I had more than my share of drink... But why do you need to do this? Jump start the cycle?

 

[LebronTheBetta]

No, you don't add ammonia everyday. Just test the water after 2-3 days of the dosing and add ammonia whenever it's 1ppm or below. Don't go over 6ppm as this will stall the cycle since it's too high for the bacteria to grow. Read this sticky. It's post #2 but listen to the dosing I said. I followed the calculator's dose and it was over the charts! I had to do a 50% change so you shouldn't follow that. ^^"

 

[LebronTheBetta]

Sorry if it doesnt sound pretty nice, I had more than my share of drink... But why do you need to do this? Jump start the cycle?

Why what? Leopard just wants to fishless cycle his tank with pure ammonia, what's wrong with it?

 

[Pilot00]

Why what? Leopard just wants to fishless cycle his tank with pure ammonia, what's wrong with it?

Didnt say there is something wrong, just wandering why to add ammonia straight? As opposed to let it occur naturally.

 

[LebronTheBetta]

You know, to start the cycle.

 

[Pilot00]

You know, to start the cycle.

Duh...LOL.

I mean isn't better to let it occur naturally? IMHO at least.

 

[LebronTheBetta]

Oh, LOL. Sorry!!
What do you mean by naturally? A fish-in cycle or a fishless cycle is the owner's choice. Never mind, there's no hope for my brain. >.>

 

[Pilot00]

Oh, LOL. Sorry!!
What do you mean by naturally? A fish-in cycle or a fishless cycle is the owner's choice. Never mind, there's no hope for my brain. >.>

If you allow the water lay still for a month or so. With the filter working (OFC, fully setup aquarium) and do an occasional water change the cycle gets complete without any fuss.

Don't worry about not understanding what I say, I am pretty much not sober right now ha! But I think I am right of the above. At least thats what my brain tells me I did for the past 15 years.

 

[LebronTheBetta]

Hm... Now I understand. But where's the ammonia source? Wait, LF has 1ppm in his tap water. If he adds some throughout the week, he doesn't need to use pure ammonia. I haven't even reached 15 years yet. ;w;

 

[Pilot00]

Hm... Now I understand. But where's the ammonia source? Wait, LF has 1ppm in his tap water. If he adds some throughout the week, he doesn't need to use pure ammonia. I haven't even reached 15 years yet. ;w;

You answered yourself. Tap water has it inside in small quantities waiting to take over. Especially if you let the water still, so to speak.

 

[Leopardfire]

My tap water has 1ppm ammonia, but I want to add a little more to make it around 2 or 3ppm so the cycle goes faster and can handle more.

 

[whatsupyall]

I just got back into betta hobby after 3 years of retirement. However, in the past, I hardly ever cycled my tanks before placing fish in there, or at least I cycled them with the bettas in there and they seem super healthy the whole time lol. Especially fry's. I just set up my 55 gallon, dechlorinate it. Add a filter. Slowly acclimate the fry into the 55 gallon and voila. Healthy healthy healthy me, I eat fruits and vegetables that are good for me lol. However, I strongly recommend cycling your tanks. You would be doing the right thing.

 

[LadyVictorian]

The issue is Leopard's fish is too ill to do a fish in cycle. He's suffering serious fin rot from the ammonia in the water. Hardware has ammonia, it works well though your water seems to have a good supply of it as well >. I wish you tons of luck on cycling.

 

[Leopardfire]

I added my betta without cycling to the 10 gallon and though the ammonia never got super high, he ended up with fin rot which is now so severe that he could die. I will always cycle from now on because it's just not worth it the time saved by not doing it if the fish get sick.

 

[LadyVictorian]

I have my fingers crossed for you and your fishy Leopardfire. I really hope with the spring water you can get him to good health again.

 

[Leopardfire]

Thank you and I hope so too. His fins haven't gotten any worse today, so I think the Triple Sulfa may be slowing it down. He's been battling fin rot for over a month, so I really hope he can get better.