How Much Ammonia In Start Up

[doresy]

Ok, so not new to fish keeping but new to starting a tank from scratch.

Tank...AquaOne 320 (24lts)
Filter...small AquaOne internal (came with tank)
Substrate.....silver sand
Intended use....bringing on fry, and keeping a few Pigmy Corys.

Hisory so far...Day 1. Cleaned tank and substrate. Filled with dechlorinated water. Day 2. Switched on heater (set at 85*) and filter. Added some flake food. Day 3. (tomorrow) buy suitable ammonia

Question......'Ball-park figure' on how much ammonia to add to begin with to raise 24lts to around 6ppm?

 

[rdd1952]

It's hard to say exactly what you will need to add. Different ammonia has different strengths. Usually, about 1 milliliter will raise 5 gallon to about 4 ppm (at least with my ammonia). Just test in your water change bucket. Run 5 gallon and add about 1ml (the API test tubes are 5ml to the testing line), stir it up and test. That should give you a pretty good idea of what to add. 24 liters is about 6 gallons so the 1ml should be close to enough. There's really no harm in going over 5 or 6 ppm other than when the level goes off the chart, you don't really know when it actually starts dropping until it gets back on the chart.

You can also add a little media from your other tank to jumpstart the cycling process.

 

[Bignose]

There's really no harm in going over 5 or 6 ppm other than when the level goes off the chart, you don't really know when it actually starts dropping until it gets back on the chart.

No, too high of a concentration can inhibit bacterial growth, that is why the 4-6 ppm range is nice and high enough to be a 24 hr. all-you-can-eat buffet for the bacteria without it being too high to inhibit their growth.

 

[Phishy25]

You can get the ammonia in Homebase in Eastleigh "Household Ammonia". I have just started to cycle my new tank and I used the free pipette you get with any fish meds. They hold 1ml and I just did some simple maths with a 10 litre bucket and worked out how much I needed. It's been cycling a week now and everything is going exactly to plan. I am following the pinned "add & wait" method.

 

[doresy]

You can get the ammonia in Homebase in Eastleigh "Household Ammonia". I.

Great....thanks. Tried all the Supermarkets, even went to Fish shops....."what do you want ammonia for" they asked.....jez! Homebase it is then! Thanks for the other tips too!
Oh, hang on.....not one in Eastleigh, probably C/Ford.....yeah?

 

[rdd1952]

even went to Fish shops....."what do you want ammonia for" they asked.....jez!

Actually, I think ammonia is used in making home-made bombs (at least that's what I've heard) so some places might question but a fish store employee with any knowledge of the hobby should know.

 

[doresy]

even went to Fish shops....."what do you want ammonia for" they asked.....jez!

Actually, I think ammonia is used in making home-made bombs (at least that's what I've heard) so some places might question but a fish store employee with any knowledge of the hobby should know.

I think that's Peroxide for bomb-making.....or so I'VE heard