Adding Amonia

[Creature Seeker]

Hello,

I'm in the process of starting my fishless cycle as have just tested a 2 gallon bucket of water to see how much ammonia to add. When I finally got the a result between 4.9 & 7.3 mg/l (ppm) with a hagen test kit I had added 42 drops to this bucket. This seems an aweful lot and if I have to add 42 drops to every 2 gallons then that's a lot of ammonia!

Is this correct?

...

 

[Spinal]

Hello,

I'm in the process of starting my fishless cycle as have just tested a 2 gallon bucket of water to see how much ammonia to add. When I finally got the a result between 4.9 & 7.3 mg/l (ppm) with a hagen test kit I had added 42 drops to this bucket. This seems an aweful lot and if I have to add 42 drops to every 2 gallons then that's a lot of ammonia!

Is this correct?

...

What ammonia are you using? As in, what stength? Most ammonia you buy is only 6% or 9% diluted in water. Obviously, the purer the ammonia, the less you need. I have never found anything more than 9% (if you have, PLEASE tell me where, it would save me so much time!) And you do need a fair amount of it (thought nowhere near 42 drops /g)
Michele

 

[WILDER]

This might help.
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=113861

 

[Creature Seeker]

My ammonia is 9% and I've read that fishless cycling thread as that's where I red about the test. But I'm only getting the desired reading of ammonia in a 2 gallon bucket after adding 42 drops.

...

 

[mousey]

I bought ammonia too and it does not state the % on the container.
I had to add 1 teaspoon to 5 gallons of water to get a reading of 4ppm.
Once it had ALMOST cycled-- ie it took about 16 hours to get 0 ammonia and nitrite readings I added 6 drops of ammonia to get a 1ppm reading.
Don't know if this helps.

 

[SmileyMan]

To work out ammonia needed

Example:

Tank Volume: 120litres (v)
Ammonia Strength: 9% (a)
Target PPM: 6ppm (p)

Volume of solution to be added in ml (s)

((v/1000)*p)*(100/a) = s

Tank Volume / 1000 = 1 Million part of water (MPW)
MPW * Target PPM = Volume of ammonia to be added in ml (VAA)
100 / Ammonia Strength = Adjuster
Adjuster * VAA = Volume of ammonia to add

120 / 1000 = 0.12
0.12 * 6 = 0.72
100 / 9 = 11.11
11.11 * 0.72 = 8

So to get to 6ppm of ammonia in 120 litres of water with ammonia strength of 9% you need to add 8ml.

Simple eh?

 

[Creature Seeker]

To work out ammonia needed

Example:

Tank Volume: 120litres (v)
Ammonia Strength: 9% (a)
Target PPM: 6ppm (p)

Volume of solution to be added in ml (s)

((v/1000)*p)*(100/a) = s

Tank Volume / 1000 = 1 Million part of water (MPW)
MPW * Target PPM = Volume of ammonia to be added in ml (VAA)
100 / Ammonia Strength = Adjuster
Adjuster * VAA = Volume of ammonia to add

120 / 100 = 0.12
0.12 * 6 = 0.72
100 / 9 = 11.11
11.11 * 0.72 = 8

So to get to 6ppm of ammonia in 120 litres of water with ammonia strength of 9% you need to add 8ml.

Simple eh?

Thanks a lot everyone. Just about to test your method Smiley Man. You made a tiny typo thou when doing your 120 example. You divided by 100 instead of a 1000. Just thought I'd let you know incase others got a strange calculation.

Thanks!

...

 

[SmileyMan]

Thanks a lot everyone. Just about to test your method Smiley Man. You made a tiny typo thou when doing your 120 example. You divided by 100 instead of a 1000. Just thought I'd let you know incase others got a strange calculation.

Thanks!

...

Fixed

 

[fishcollector7000]

whelll.....this is mighty difficult!