Ammonia?

[Nick16]

hi, i have heard people going to places like boots, and buying ammonia? why? i though you want to get rid of the stuff? or is it to do with giving the 'good' bacteria something use and feed off? how expensive is it? is it a powder or a liquid? what does it achieve? i am going to set up a new tank (240l) and was wondering if i need to buy some, i will have 2 cycled fluval 4+ filters, and probably some of my existing tanks water. (i want to add the fish straight away, (after aclimatising, of course! ))

i have made a list of some of the stuff i will need: (its a 240l tank!) (most things i already have)

1 X tetratec ex1200
coarse sand, for substrate,
JBL Aquabasis (under substrate)
plants, now i have some anubia's java fern, a crypt (nevelli?) vals, and 2 other plants! i want something for the for ground, a low level almost carpeting plant, but not carpeting if you get me. i dont want mosses or riccia. i hae seen HC but i THINK that may need high light.
i will be dosing TPN and have diy co2. lighting will be around 2WPG.

 

[Schmill]

The ammonia is used to perform a FISHLESS CYCLE, so if you have filters that are already cycled for that size of tank you probably won't need it.
If the filters were cycled on a smaller tank then it might be worth doing a cycle on them just to bring them up so they will be able to cope with the larger stocking of the bigger tank.
Have a read of the thread I linked to above for details on fishles cycling, and for reference this is what the Boot's ammonia (liquid) looks like:

 

[Nick16]

there will not be a larger stocking. i am just moving my fish from the 120l to the 240l. so, if the fluval filters are cycled in the 120l then they will be cycled in the 240l! i am thinking of getting some more filter pags and cramming them in my juwel filter, so that when i get my ex1200, i will already have some 'mature' media, to help things along. however, the media will be completely the wrong size id imagine!

 

[rdd1952]

As you mentioned, if you move the filter over along with the fish, the tank is basically cycled, You won't be moving all the bacteria over as there is some on the tank walls, deccorations and substrate but not enough to matter. Just add stock at a reasonable rate and you shouldn't have any problems. You shouldn't have any need for ammonia but over here in the US, a quart bottle is less than a dollar.

 

[Nick16]

thtats ok. the tank comes with 2 fluval 4+, and i will get a TT ex1200 for Xmas. i will put these in my old tank to help them cycle, and then move them all accross with the fish and sme water, about 50 or so, so not all the water will be 'new'

 

[Schmill]

Water doesn't really matter, new water, old water, theres not much difference, the bacteria are in the filter anyway, but feel free to move the water if you want to
As for the added cycling, as you've said, although you are moving to a bigger tank, you are keeping the fish stock at the same level, so that will be fine, no need to do extra cycling, just let the fish enjoy their new spacious home

Oh... and get some piccies up of it once everything is moved over

EDIT: "now need to do extra cycling" changed to "no need to do extra cycling" - SORRY bit of a difference there with a one letter typo!

 

[rdd1952]

As mentioned, there really isn't any bacteria in the water but moving it is still a good idea so that the fish go back into the same water they came out of, thus making acclimation easier. Since you're doubling the tank size, I personally would move as much of the water as possible and them finish filling it. That would equate to roughly a 50% water change.

 

[Schmill]

As mentioned, there really isn't any bacteria in the water but moving it is still a good idea so that the fish go back into the same water they came out of, thus making acclimation easier. Since you're doubling the tank size, I personally would move as much of the water as possible and them finish filling it. That would equate to roughly a 50% water change.

Good point, I forgot about the whole acclimatisation

 

[Nick16]

cool, thanks guys. i will move my basic plants accross as well. what other plants are good, something foreground requiring NO MORE than 2WPG?

 

[rdd1952]

Most stem plants will do fine with less than 2 wpg. Anacharis, amazon sword, wisteria for taller plants. For shorter, foreground plants, anubias nana is good.