Help! I Need Ammonia!

[LukeFishwalker]

Awww crap! You don't think I hurt the filter do you?

I doubt you hurt the actual filter. Whats stopping you from just starting over - 100% water change? That might be a safer bet since you arent too far into the process.

 

[Ilya]

Yeah, I figured that out. I'll do it until I hit the gravel and refill it with clean water. I'll cross my fingers.

And wont add anymore ammonia, lol. That should be enough!

 

[LukeFishwalker]

Yeah, I figured that out. I'll do it until I hit the gravel and refill it with clean water. I'll cross my fingers.

And wont add anymore ammonia, lol. That should be enough!

Just keep testing and make sure its 5ppm like rdd1952 suggested.

I'm having a hard time finding ammonia myself here in the U.S. I tried Wal-mart, Sams, Lowes and Home-depot. I'll try Ace hardware next - keeping my fingers crossed as well

 

[Ilya]

Try True Value. That's where I got mine.

 

[rdd1952]

Walmart should have it. It would be in the cleaning section. The brand they have around here is called Sea Mist.

 

[Ilya]

RDD1852, would you please state how much ammonia to use in your fishless cycle tutorial! So others like me don't commit the same mistake.

 

[LukeFishwalker]

Yeah, I just got back from walmart a few hours ago looking for it. All the ammonia they had contained Surfacants - same with lowes. I'll try Ace hardware tomorrow - I think there is a true value around here somewhere as well.

 

[rdd1952]

I've actually got in there to test the amount in a 5 gallon bucket. It's the paragraph above the "Add & Wait" Method. Because the concentration can have an effect on how much is required, it's hard to give a blanket amount to add. I did just add that 1ml will usually be about right for 5 gallon depending on concentration.

 

[Ilya]

What does it look like to you? 6 or 6.5 ppm?

It's without flash too.

 

[Ilya]

Guys, I'm getting worried. What should I do? What do you think my ammonia level is? I'm so confused.

 

[LukeFishwalker]

Guys, I'm getting worried. What should I do? What do you think my ammonia level is? I'm so confused.

You don't have fish in there so dont worry, its not a big deal. You can always just drain all the water and start over.

As for your reading, I'm color blind so anything between 1 and 7 looks the same to me )

 

[**sarahp**]

I'm color blind so anything between 1 and 7 looks the same to me )

Bet that makes life interesting!

back to OP - tbh I reckon its somewhere near the 6ppm mark so I would just leave it alone now. Wack the temperature up, put the airstone on if you have one and let the cycle begin. But you also need to work out what ammount of ammonia you need to get the levels back to 4ppm cos once the cycle gets going and the levels drop to zero you do not wanna just dump half a cup full in again as that will kill off any bacteria that you have managed to cultivate. So get a bucket put one gallon in it and add ammonia 1ml at a time til you get to 4ppm then times that by 20 and hey presto you have the amount of ammonia needed to rasie your 20 gallon tank to 4ppm!

 

[rdd1952]

It's hard to tell in the photo but I'd say you are around 5 or maybe a little higher. Definitely on the chart now so you can see any change that occurs.

 

[Ilya]

It's still the same since I last checked it. It's suppose to be this high, right?

 

[LukeFishwalker]

It's still the same since I last checked it. It's suppose to be this high, right?

yeah, it should take a few days before you see any drop.