Ammonia Scaling

[hwoarangtag]

I've read a lot of articles on fishless cycling. Most of them generally say to get ammonia to 5 ppm. Since everything can be explained, i want to know where is that 5 PPM value coming from. How much waste, how many fish in a certain size aquarium does 5 ppm represent?

Thanks

 

[SJ2K]

To measure ammonia/nitrite/nitrate etc we use a liquid test kit API master kit is generally the most approved as it very easy to use, covers all the necisary elements and is highly accurate.

5 ppm simply means parts-per-million. To reach that level you will just need to add a few drops, test the water with your kit, see where abouts you are and either leave it or add more untill ure at 5

 

[hwoarangtag]

i realized that. But why 5, why not 8, why not 2. Who sets the standard if 5 PPM ??

 

[SJ2K]

5 is fine and so is 8, the higher the level the more bacteria will colonise the filter. If you plan on having a heavily stocked tank then having media that can process higher levels of ammonia is needed

 

[mark.w.jones]

Actually, it was found that ammonia levels above 5ppm slowed bacterial growth. 5ppm has been agreed by many as the optimal level to allow the fastest growth of bacteria without being inhibited. Having a water higher temperature also contributes to increasing bacterial growth. Well done for choosing the fishless route. Much more humane than cycling with fish.

 

[Squid]

i realized that. But why 5, why not 8, why not 2. Who sets the standard if 5 PPM ??

Bit of a guess, but i think 5 was probably for the average bio-load for a tank with normal filtration. In other words, if you were to stock the tank straight away according to the starters inch per gallon rule, then a tank that has been fishless cycled to cope with that level of ammonia should be ok.

Personally I would not stock too highly. A cycled new tank is still not mature. I would stock over 50% and then add fish slowly. If properly cycled filter can cope with small additions without a problematic mini-cycle. I stocked fairly highly after a fishless cycle and had some casualties.

Although saying that, that was partially due to my naivety. I stocked with things like angelfish and panda cory's which prefer a 6 month or so mature tank. Learn from my mistakes

Squid