A Cycling Question..

[Declan]

Well,

As I am fishless cycling my 25 litre tank, I have worked out that I need 1.44ml of 9.5% Pure Ammonia.

I was wondering, would putting, say 5ml of 9.5% Pure Ammonia in, speed it up, as the Nitrites would have more to 'feast' on? therefore cycling the tank sooner.

Thanks, D.

 

[JenCliBee]

no m8 that amount would just stall the cycle ...apparently if the ammonia level goes above i think around 7-8 ppm then it wont process it or if it does will do it extreamly slowly

 

[Declan]

no m8 that amount would just stall the cycle ...apparently if the ammonia level goes above i think around 7-8 ppm then it wont process it or if it does will do it extreamly slowly

Oh well, just a thought, eh?

On the plus side, I havent seen a thread that has asked that Q..

Thanks anyway Jen.

D.

 

[backtotropical]

As Jen says, it wouldn't work. The reason being that when ammonia is at higher concentrations (somewhere around 8ppm+ i believe), it actually encourages a different strain of bacteria (can't remember its name just now), which thrives in these higher concentrations of ammonia.

The danger with this is of course that once you stop adding ammonia and add fish instead, the ammonia level won't reach such high levels and the bacteria you have cultured will simply die off due to their high demand for ammonia being unsatisfied, leaving an uncycled filter.

That is why it is generally recommended to use 4 - 5ppm ammonia for a fishless cycle, in order that you are growing the correct bacteria (Nitrosomonas) which won't just die off after the cycle is complete.

The nitrite bacteria follow much the same story, with Nitrospira being prevailant at typical aquarium levels, and Nitrobacter thriving in higher concentrations.

Cheers

BTT