How Much Ammonia?

[indigoj]

I have a 105l tank cycling and have been adding approx 20-30ml of ammonia per day for about a week. Unfortunately the API Master Test Kit I ordered has been 'lost' in the postal strikes so I can't test until I buy another kit on Friday. I am using a Fluval 3 filter, temp is 28degrees and there is a sand substrate. The filter media was new and I have just added some mature media.

I suspect I have been adding too much ammonia as the filet reeked of the stuff so what should I do? Water changes? Start again? Wash the new filter media (not the mature stuff)? Any help appreciated Thanks!

 

[doresy]

if your filter smells of ammonia then you have been overdoseing. I would do a 40-50% water change and wait for the test kit to show up. Dont wash the filter out.

 

[indigoj]

Just done a 50% water change and partially rinsed the filter media because it did smell strongly (in tank water from my other tank) didn't rinse the matured media. Going to do 50% change tommorrow and then hopefully test kit will be here or I'll have bought another.

 

[Aphotic Phoenix]

Unfortunately it's hard for us to give you a direct amount of Ammonia to add because Ammonia can come in different concentrations. Ammonia sources in the UK and Aus tend to have lower Ammonia concentrations than American sources. Dose sparingly until the kit arrives, and then shoot for about 5 ppms of Ammonia once it does. If you use too much Ammonia it can kill off the bacteria you are trying to grow.

 

[AllenLeicester]

Can too much ammonia kill your plants?

 

[Gremily]

I think a very high concentration might be but it won't get harmfully high during a normal fishless cycle.

 

[backtotropical]

If you post on the ammonia concentration of the solution which you are using, we can work out how much you should be adding. ie ammonia solution from Boots the chemist is 9.5% ammonia.

 

[Ilya]

Don't be like me and pour the bottle in!

 

[Rooster]

Most household cleaner type ammonia are 10% or so... you are talking DROPS per day ! You have massively overdosed, dont forget this is sold to KILL bacteria !
I suspect you have sterilised the tank and media.

Best thing to do is start again... with a test kit ! Sorry !

 

[rdd1952]

I too suspect you have sterilized the tank with too much ammonia. As mentioned, it's hard to say how much you need but it's generally close to about 1ml per 5 gallons. That will usually get you to about 5ppm. That would mean you needed about 5ml to begin with and then youwould have waited for it to drop back to zero (or close). Based on what you have added and using 1ml per 5 gallon yielding 5ppm, I would estimate that your ammonia level would be somewhere in the 140 to 210 ppm range. I think you will most likely have to do a 100% water change and even that will probably still result in a low ammonia reading.

 

[Behold]

((5/Percentage of Amonia)*Litres in tank)/10 = Ml needed.

i use 9.5% at home and a have 100l of water actually in the tank/filter after sand and all that lot is in there

so 5/9.5
Times 100
divide 10

= 5.263157.... so about 5ml

this will give you 5ppm or near too.