Clear Ammonia...fishless Cycle...help Please

[julielynn47]

I have looked everywhere I can think to look for pure ammonia.  I can not find any anywhere.  I found " LA's Totally Awesome Clear Ammonia" today and bought it because I thought maybe it would work.  I don't know or not. It doesn't list ingredients so I thought, for a dollar, I would bring it home and google it.  So I then find people saying it is a no go for fish. One person said that they called the company to list of the ingredients and it had soaps in it.  I can't understand why that is not listed on the bottle.  
 
So, has anyone here ever used it?  If so did it do okay?   I shake the bottle and it does not foam up bad. Bubbles do form on the surface but they go away fairly quickly.  I put some in a cup of water and sloshed my fingers around in it and it didn't bubble or anything.
 
I am wondering if I could go ahead and use it, and if it would hurt anything? I don't have fish in the tank. I have plants in it though. Will it just kill the bacteria? Is that why it has to have nothing in it?  And where in the world to you find ammonia that has nothing in it?  I have looked everywhere in 3 different towns and can't find it.
 
TIA

 

[Ch4rlie]

Personally I would not risk using ammonia that has any soaps or perfumes. This would affect the tank and filter as it could leach into the media, substrate etc, would be hard to get rid of the soaps or perfume.
 
There are a number of ammonia sources you can get, usually easiest online, Kleen Off, 3Chem, Ace, Dr Tim's Ammonium Chloride to name but a few that has been tried and tested without issues at all.
 
You can simply type in fishless cycle ammonia in eBay for example, should come up with a number of results.
 
http/www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.Xfishless+cycle+ammonia.TRS0&_nkw=fishless+cycle+ammonia&_sacat=0
 
That link is from UK but am sure in USA will come up with similar or alternative sources.
 
These images may help in knowing what to look for -
 
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BTW you are looking on the bottle ingredients that lists only ammonia and water, known as ammona hydroxide or ammonia chloride with a percentage, usually 9.5% or in 3chem case 35% which is strong.

 

[julielynn47]

Thanks for the fast reply.   I have found, after searching a bit,  DrTim's Aquatics Ammonium chloride - 2 oz bottle by DrTim's Aquatics,   I am just going to get some of this. At least I will know I have the right stuff to cycle with.

 

[cowgirluntamed]

I found pure ammonia at The Dollar Tree. You may try there. It says pure ammonia on the bottle and when shaken, no bubbles that foam.

 

[StevenF]

 
 
So, has anyone here ever used it?  If so did it do okay?   I shake the bottle and it does not foam up bad. Bubbles do form on the surface but they go away fairly quickly.  I put some in a cup of water and sloshed my fingers around in it and it didn't bubble or anything.

If you shake it and the bubbles go away quickly then there is a reasonable chance you got ammonia without any soap in it.  If it soesn't small like ammonia it might have a frerence added. which i also not good.  If it has color it has a dye in it and again it is not good.

 

[julielynn47]

The Dollar Tree is where I got this bottle.  It doesn't not have any ingredients list at all on it.  I didn't see any other bottles, but I might have overlooked them.  
 
It gets a few bubbles, I am not sure if it is from soap or not.  I just ordered the Dr. Tim's from Amazon and I will use that.  I already have a bacterial bloom going, but it looks like it is going away. The poor bacteria is probably starving because I have nothing to feed it. LOL   

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Ace Hardware has the stuff I used years ago.  The Dr. Tim's stuff is likely the best to use, as its designed specifically for a fishless cycle.  It tells you exactly what dosage to use, etc.  I'd add that the price might be a little higher, but piece of mind is worth something.  The other stuff is actually really strong and a good whiff of that in your nostrils will make you regret it.  I accidentally took a whiff... my lungs hurt for about 2 hours afterwards.  And that was from a SINGLE whiff in the nose.  I immediately got fresh air, stayed away from the ammonia and the result was that the pain subsided... eventually.  In the meantime, it felt like my lungs were on fire.  The Dr. Tim's stuff is easier to use.  

 

[techen]

I've found this stuff works too
 
Pretty sure it has a mix of ammonia and a few other things, Just don't do the "After 7 days add fish" Would do a 7 day cycle of the stuff then wait. Dr tims works too though.
 

 

[Ch4rlie]

I've found this stuff works too
 
Pretty sure it has a mix of ammonia and a few other things, Just don't do the "After 7 days add fish" Would do a 7 day cycle of the stuff then wait. Dr tims works too though.

 
Have not come across this before, it looks more like a bacteria starter rather than ammonia for testing and feeding the bacs during the cycling process.
 
Have you used this stuff personally?

 

[techen]

 

I've found this stuff works too
 
Pretty sure it has a mix of ammonia and a few other things, Just don't do the "After 7 days add fish" Would do a 7 day cycle of the stuff then wait. Dr tims works too though.

 
Have not come across this before, it looks more like a bacteria starter rather than ammonia for testing and feeding the bacs during the cycling process.
 
Have you used this stuff personally?
 

 
I wouldn't have linked it if I haven't used it. I've had it in my marine tank, After 7 days you'll see ammonia spike, after a week or so it will die and nitrates will start to produce. Just like a normal cycle with ammonia really. The bottles big enough to keep feeding it, Depends how large the bioload is going to be, Of course with my marine tank I have rock to help with the breakdown stuff but on the bottle it does say FW as well, I'd have to try it in a FW tank sometime as well.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

I'm personally dubious of this 'Seed' product.  
 
"The species of bacteria in seed are a unique blend..."
 
 Umm, there have only been specific bacteria proven to be at work in the home aquarium in the research I've read.
 
 
"specifically developed for hardiness and their ability to adapt to a wide variety of environmental conditions..."
 
 I'd love to read the research, but generally, Seachem doesn't share that type of stuff.
 
 
"The strains thrive in both freshwater and saltwater."
 I've never heard of such a thing.
 
 
 
 
 
"... contains facultative bacterial strains which are able to adapt to either aerobic or anaerobic conditions..."

 Never ever heard of such a thing.

 

[Ch4rlie]

So you still need ammonia after dosing this stuff to the tank as it is essentially one of these bacterial starter and is actually not cycled tank in a bottle to be fair.
 
So an ammonia source will still be needed to test the tank and filter is cycled after however long it is from dosing this 'seed' to ensure the tank is safe before adding any stocking.

 

[techen]

I'm personally dubious of this 'Seed' product.  
 
"The species of bacteria in seed are a unique blend..."
 

 Umm, there have only been specific bacteria proven to be at work in the home aquarium in the research I've read.
 
 
"specifically developed for hardiness and their ability to adapt to a wide variety of environmental conditions..."
 

 I'd love to read the research, but generally, Seachem doesn't share that type of stuff.
 
 
"The strains thrive in both freshwater and saltwater."

 I've never heard of such a thing.
 
 
 
 
 
"... contains facultative bacterial strains which are able to adapt to either aerobic or anaerobic conditions..."

 Never ever heard of such a thing.

"The strains thrive in both freshwater and saltwater."
 
The bacteria is the same in Freshwater and saltwater, Research! Its when its first introduced into a Saltwater or freshwater it will adjust to whichever its in but overall it's the same bacteria doing the samething. However, you can move say freshwater bacteria to marine but its slow and likewise to the other way around, Always best to start over.
 
"The species of bacteria in seed are a unique blend..."
Advertisement
 
"specifically developed for hardiness and their ability to adapt to a wide variety of environmental conditions..."
again.. Advertisement, Of course bacteria can adjust to a wide variety of conditions. That's the point... But gotta sell a product.
 
"... contains facultative bacterial strains which are able to adapt to either aerobic or anaerobic conditions..."
 

 
 

Matrix[SIZE=25.35px]™[/SIZE]
 

• High capacity biofiltration
• Controls ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate
• Highly porous - enormous surface area (>~700 m2/L)
• Supports aerobic and anaerobic bacteria species

So you still need ammonia after dosing this stuff to the tank as it is essentially one of these bacterial starter and is actually not cycled tank in a bottle to be fair.
 
So an ammonia source will still be needed to test the tank and filter is cycled after however long it is from dosing this 'seed' to ensure the tank is safe before adding any stocking.

 
Discovery dundee, Being awarded many things for being "The" best fish store in scotland would not recommend a product that was "fake" or "snake oil" They have assured me that they've tested this product in store with good results, The only reason they'd stock it. These are the same people that are not scared to reject sales to customers with small tanks or uncycled ones. I trust there information and from using it myself I believe that this bottle alone is enough to cycle a tank, Just not in 7 days as they claim, It still works however. Even the store said dose and wait 4-8 weeks, They know the deal.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Just giving me another seachem product doesn't mean that bacteria that thrive in both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria exists.  
 
 
Do you have any of the research?  Or, do you just believe what seachem tells you?

 

[techen]

Just giving me another seachem product doesn't mean that bacteria that thrive in both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria exists.  
 
 
Do you have any of the research?  Or, do you just believe what seachem tells you?

 
We all know that aerobic is the correct bacteria supported in all filters when theres a flow and oxygen being provided for it. This media also supports anaerobic, Where oxygen isn't variable such as deep sand beds, Very slow moving water etc. However, Mostly all media can be used to create anaerobic bacteria but matrix has the biggest surface area for them. But as per anything, It's mostly fancy words.very few people use anaerobic but it does exist, The question you asked has been answered!