Fishless Cycling

[Coco]

I've got Ammonia, nitrite & nitrate testing kits, I just can't seem to find pure ammonia anywhere! I tried jollies and 2 local pet stores! Not one ammonia related product, where to find pure ammonia uk? Please help! Thanks.

 

[Mattyduk]

I found mine in Homebase cleaning section £2.49

 

[blagger]

Got mine from here: http/www.ebay.co.uk/itm/230695176528#ht_1284wt_1396

 

[Coco]

And Is that ammonia from eBay safe to use in a fish aquriam? Does it have any more chemicals in it?

Thanks for rely's by the way!

 

[blagger]

I was told by someone else on here it was ok, so took their word for it!

If you look at the listing it states "Perfect for Fish Tank Cycling"

 

[Coco]

Ah okay thanks! Is your tank finished cycling yet? If so how long did it take?

 

[Aqua Tom]

There is a link to boots ammonia in my sig.


Tom

 

[blagger]

Ah okay thanks! Is your tank finished cycling yet? If so how long did it take?

Almost been cycling for a week now. You can view the log here: http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/380522-beginning-my-fishless-cycle-please-advise/

 

[Coco]

Ah okay thanks! Is your tank finished cycling yet? If so how long did it take?

Almost been cycling for a week now. You can view the log here: http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/380522-beginning-my-fishless-cycle-please-advise/

Ah good, how long do you expect it to take?

There is a link to boots ammonia in my sig.


Tom

Sorry I'm new here what's a sig?
Many thanks

 

[blagger]

Ah good, how long do you expect it to take?

No idea, usually takes a month but I have managed to get hold of some established media complete with the filter, apparently you can get it to cycle much quicker with that. Just check figures daily. Hoping for it to be cycled by beginning of January but not in any rush although I'd loved to have some fish right now, just do the tests daily and taking it from there.

 

[Coco]

Ah good, how long do you expect it to take?

Oh some people told me you could do it in 2 weeks? Haha I was clueless when I set it up, I thought i'd have the fish before christmas, can't see that happening haha. Would it take longer if I used fish food as my source of ammonia?

No idea, usually takes a month but I have managed to get hold of some established media complete with the filter, apparently you can get it to cycle much quicker with that. Just check figures daily. Hoping for it to be cycled by beginning of January but not in any rush although I'd loved to have some fish right now, just do the tests daily and taking it from there.

Ah good, how long do you expect it to take?

Oh some people told me you could do it in 2 weeks? Haha I was clueless when I set it up, I thought i'd have the fish before christmas, can't see that happening haha. Would it take longer if I used fish food as my source of ammonia?

No idea, usually takes a month but I have managed to get hold of some established media complete with the filter, apparently you can get it to cycle much quicker with that. Just check figures daily. Hoping for it to be cycled by beginning of January but not in any rush although I'd loved to have some fish right now, just do the tests daily and taking it from there.

Sorry for some reason they weren't coming through there:L some people told me I could have it up and running in 2 weeks? Could I use fish food as my source of ammonia or would that take longer? Thanks.

 

[blagger]

Some people do, but if you're adding bottled ammonia already then I suppose you don't need to use fish food. For fish food to turn into ammonia it would take around three days, just pour it in from the bottle and you have it straight away. Fish food will just sit on the bottom and cause a mess in a fish less cycle any way.

Don't hold me on this info though as I am no expert!

I'm doing the "add and wait" method (link below), apart from established media I haven't added anything else.

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/113861-fishless-cycling/

 

[Coco]

Some people do, but if you're adding bottled ammonia already then I suppose you don't need to use fish food. For fish food to turn into ammonia it would take around three days, just pour it in from the bottle and you have it straight away. Fish food will just sit on the bottom and cause a mess in a fish less cycle any way.
Don't hold me on this info though as I am no expert!

I'm doing the "add and wait" method (link below), apart from established media I haven't added anything else.

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/113861-fishless-cycling/

yeah I'm also using that method, looks like I won't have fish until January thanks for your advice!

 

[eaglesaquarium]

The variability of duration for a fishless cycle depends on a myriad of things. Basically, there are 3 main phases to the process, and most suggest approximately a week as a confirmation of the end of the cycle. Each phase takes roughly 2 weeks (sometimes as many as 4-6), so a 7 week time frame is roughly an average value with some less and some much, much longer.


You could do fish food, but if you did fish food, you would have far less control over the amount of the ammonia dosage and you won't be as sure as you could be regarding your progress. Fish food was the beginning method, but it is far clunkier and there is far more guess work involved. The pure ammonia is the preferred choice because it is cheaper and doesn't involved excesses of other materials.


To test the ammonia for its use in a fishless cycle, give it the shake test. It should just bubble the same as if you were to shake a jug of water. If it foams at all, it is worthless. The best check is to check the ingredients. It should say: water, ammonium hydroxide. That's it. No perfumes, no surfactants (detergents).

 

[blagger]

To test the ammonia for its use in a fishless cycle, give it the shake test. It should just bubble the same as if you were to shake a jug of water. If it foams at all, it is worthless. The best check is to check the ingredients. It should say: water, ammonium hydroxide. That's it. No perfumes, no surfactants (detergents).

Just done the shake test for you coco, no foam and crystal clear so should be ok. There is no ingredients on the package so I can't check that. Gosh that stuff stinks.