Help! I Need Ammonia!

[Ilya]

None of the fish stores in my town sell ammonia. Even the guy that I asked at Petco was like "why do you need ammonia, you're suppose to get rid of it". He said he has been keeping fish for like 10 years. Anyhow, he pointed me out to Cycle (I know). He said that it already has massive amounts of bacteria on it. And on the box it says that it rapidly matures new aquariums.

Now I can do one of two things:
1. Buy a pleco to make ammonia for me.
2. Get a piece of someone's mature filter.

But I still need ammonia. Someone help me!

I also have a Fresh Lab master test kit.
And it either has ammonia testing, or testing + pure ammonia, can't tell.
One is like a liquid and says Reagent B, the other is a powder that says Reagent A.

 

[rdd1952]

You have to get ammonia at the grocery store on the cleaning aisle or at a hardware or home improvement store (Lowes, Home Depot). And the Cyle has no beneficial bacteria in it. The bacteria they claim is in the bottle aren't the proper kind (even if they did exist) to process ammonia and nitrite.

 

[-germ-]

Now I can do one of two things:
1. Buy a pleco to make ammonia for me.
2. Get a piece of someone's mature filter.

But I still need ammonia. Someone help me!

2)You shouldn't have to if you can get mature media. Technically, once added (i think not too good cycling topics) if you stock slowly the bacteria should be able to keep up with the ammonia. Obviously this is depending on the tank the media is taken from. Combine this with regular water changes and i'd have thought you' be fine without ammonia or performing a fish in cycle.

1)A pleco IMHO isn't suitable as a cycling fish (sensitivity, cost)

Edit; RDD is 1 correct or am i wrong about this?

 

[rdd1952]

It really depends on how much media you get, how heavily the tank was stocked and what percentage of the media you got. If you get media from a small tank that only has 5 or 6 fish in it and you only get a few pieces of media, you won't have much bacteria. it may still e possible to add 1 or 2 fish and gradally stock the tank without seeing an ammonia spike but you never know. Basically, the more fish that are in the tank you get the media from and the more media you get the more bacteria you will have.

 

[Ilya]

Cleaning? I thought it was a special aquarium chemical!

Would this work? We've got it at home believe it or not!

 

[rdd1952]

Probably so but check the label. If it has any detergents, dyes, perfumes or surfactants, it won't work. Chleating agents are ok as they are binders that keep the ammonia and water mixed. If it doesn't have an ingredient label, shake the bottle good. If it foams, it won't work. A few bubbles that burst immediately (air bubbles) are fine.

 

[ebrcknrdg]

Cleaning? I thought it was a special aquarium chemical!

Would this work? We've got it at home believe it or not!

What does it say under ingredients or contents? If in doubt shake and if it froths its not the right kind

 

[Ilya]

Yay, it doesn't foam up at all. Ingredients: Ammonium Hydroxide and Surfactant. Nooo, surfactant...

 

[Ilya]

Are there any name brands that I should look out for?

 

[greatfish123]

Try the ammonia sold at ACE hardware. Their own name brand contains no surfactants and is pure ammonia. Do NOT use the one in your pic. Good Luck!

 

[Ilya]

Try the ammonia sold at ACE hardware. Their own name brand contains no surfactants and is pure ammonia. Do NOT use the one in your pic. Good Luck!

Ugh, will they sell it at safeway?

 

[TylerFerretLord]

I bought mine at Walmart, in the cleanng supplies section.

Blue jug, clear liquid.

 

[Ilya]

Well, my mother was there and she said that she saw nothing that would be beneficial. Only stuff with supplements. I was at home cleaning out the tank.

 

[rdd1952]

Ammonia is usually on the bottom shelf (at least in the grocery stores I've been in and looked for it). Usually, it only has a few shelf spaces too so it's hard to find. I would definitely think Safeway would have it.

 

[Ilya]

Alright. I think I finally found it.

Safeway doesn't have it.
Walgreens doesn't have it.
Walmart doesn't have it.

True value does have it.

I found a tub of blue ribbon clear ammonia. It doesn't have any ingredients listed, and the only thing I could find was "Contains no phosphates". I gave it a good shake and no foam came up, only a few air bubbles that dispersed quickly. I hope it's what I need!