cycling with pure ammonia
- Thread starter gkblazin
- Start date
bang guy
Moderator
Yes, you can. It's not a safe practice because the difference between enough and too much is really tiny.
The ammonia does NOT have to spike for a good cycle, that's an unfortunate myth and had led to the downfall of many saltwater aquariums. 0.25ppm is perfect for growing the required bacteria.
The ammonia does NOT have to spike for a good cycle, that's an unfortunate myth and had led to the downfall of many saltwater aquariums. 0.25ppm is perfect for growing the required bacteria.
geridoc
Well-Known Member
I have cycled many tanks with ammonium chloride, but they were FO. With live rock in the tank, I would be reluctant to do it that way since ammonium levels can get pretty high, and it would kill off many of the critters that you paid so much to have in the rock. If you still want to try it, I have directions from Moe's book.
cjason3041
Member
yes!!! listen to bang guy!!
bang guy
Moderator
Originally Posted by gkblazin
does any one else have advice.
I'm surprised you would put fish in there before the tank matured but it looks like you might be OK.
Are you using the Aquarium Pharaceuticals Ammonia test kit? If so it almost always reads 0.25 for ammonia.
Just continue as you are and let the tank mature in my opinion. If the ammonia starts to climb just do a water change to keep it low.
does any one else have advice.
I'm surprised you would put fish in there before the tank matured but it looks like you might be OK.
Are you using the Aquarium Pharaceuticals Ammonia test kit? If so it almost always reads 0.25 for ammonia.
Just continue as you are and let the tank mature in my opinion. If the ammonia starts to climb just do a water change to keep it low.
uberlink
Active Member
I'll echo the comment about Aquarium Pharmaceuticals ammonia test kits. They always look a bit like .25, even if you are testing completely clean water. In fact, as a control you could mix up a bit of fresh saltwate and test that. That will give you a true baseline color for comparison to the color you're getting from your tank.
Let's hope that your ammonia really is down to zero, for the sake of those fish you have in there!
Let's hope that your ammonia really is down to zero, for the sake of those fish you have in there!
geridoc
Well-Known Member
From Moe, "The Marine Aquarium Handbook", 1992. Keep in mind that he advocates undergravel filters - it is an old book, but this procedure has worked for me in a variety of tanks. With lr the cycle may establish itself more quickly:
Use 6% ammonium chloride.
Day 1: Add 20 drops/10 gallons
Day 3: Add 20 drops/10 gallons
Day 5: Test ammonia. If below 2 ppm, add 20 drops/10 gallons. Skip dose if test not made.
Day 7: Add 20 drops/10 gallons if ammonia levels are below 2 ppm. Begin to test for nitrite levels.
Day 10: Nitrite levels should be at 5-10 ppm. Add 10 drops of ammonium chloride/10 gallons.
Day 30: By thi stime nitrites should have fallen to 3 ppm or less. If zero, begin to slowly introduce organisms. If not zero, wait up to another 10 days for levels to fall.
Use 6% ammonium chloride.
Day 1: Add 20 drops/10 gallons
Day 3: Add 20 drops/10 gallons
Day 5: Test ammonia. If below 2 ppm, add 20 drops/10 gallons. Skip dose if test not made.
Day 7: Add 20 drops/10 gallons if ammonia levels are below 2 ppm. Begin to test for nitrite levels.
Day 10: Nitrite levels should be at 5-10 ppm. Add 10 drops of ammonium chloride/10 gallons.
Day 30: By thi stime nitrites should have fallen to 3 ppm or less. If zero, begin to slowly introduce organisms. If not zero, wait up to another 10 days for levels to fall.
petjunkie
Active Member
Not really because if you have fish in there you have bacteria growing already. That's why you do a cycle before you add fish, so they don't have to suffer ammonia and nitrite spikes. Since you have fish, you're adding food, they're pooping away, poof! bacteria. Are you testing nitrites? How long have the fish been in there?