Using ammonia and fishless cycle

[KneeKickLou]

Ok everyone I have 2 questions.

1) How do I know if ammonia is pure ammonia? I found a bottle in one of my cleaning closets I think it was my parents before they moved out and I was going to use it for my cycle, but I didnt know if there was a way to tell if it was the right stuff.

2) And second how much of it would I add to a 75 Gallon tank to get it started cycling.

Thanks in advance everyone.

[cocoa_pleco]

why dont you cycle your tank with danios or guppies instead of fooling with chemicals?

[Chrona]

If it contains a surfacant (sp?) then you don't want to use it. The ingredients should only read water and ammonia.

As for cycling, the procedure is in the sticky at the top of the beginnners forum.

Fishless cycling is faster than fish cycling because you can crank the heat way up without having to worry about anything, and there no risk of fish dying :)

Edit: er my bad, heres the link, it was actually in tank setup :rolleyes:

[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

[Lady Hobbs]

Fishless cycling is the way to go. Congrats on your decision.

Please read the Tips for Newbies in the Tank Setup Thread. These is a very good link in that post by one of our members on the complete instructions.

[jeffs99dime]

and also download the free beginner's e-book. link is located in the left menu of the forum. lots of great info

[cocoa_pleco]

the e-book pwns!
it helped me ALOT

[Lady Hobbs]

why dont you cycle your tank with danios or guppies instead of fooling with chemicals?

You can cycle a tank in about 12 days with ammonia. With fish, it will take longer, require water changes unless you want your fish to die and constant monitoring with test kits. And will take about 3 weeks.

[cocoa_pleco]

good point hobbs. Fish cycling is just a preference of mine.

[jeffs99dime]

You can cycle a tank in about 12 days with ammonia. With fish, it will take longer, require water changes unless you want your fish to die and constant monitoring with test kits. And will take about 3 weeks.

and it puts needless stress on the fish. fishless is the only way to go in my opinion

[jessie]

I never knew about fishless cycling at my first go at aquarium keeping. What a disaster it was too.....

My 72 gallon took about 4 weeks to do fishless cycling with pure ammonia, however we never added any of the bacteria to the tank. My 29 gallon had a signfiicant nitrite spike after about a week, so it is almost done cycling. That's with using some of the media from my canister filter that is already estrablished.

[henkychif]

Fishless cycling is great. Label should list "ammonia" as trhe only ingredient. Hannaford's brand is what I use. I found that it takes about 3 weeks. You want to get the nitrate readings up, ammonia 0 and nitrites 0. IME the ammonia-eating bacteria grow fast, while the nitrite-eating guys take longer. As always, "Your mileage may vary."

[Lady Hobbs]

3 and 4 weeks even sounds like a long time to me. Did you bring the ammonia to 5. everyday? Generally it doesn't take long at all.

[sergo]

my 55 gal cycled in 10 days fishless. i think it is the only way and there's absolutely nothing to worry about.

[KneeKickLou]

thanks guys ill get on this tonight when i get home I've also been running one of my canisters on my established 55 so that should help ill prob float some filter media also. Thanks again.