New Tank Cycling

[HurleyInferno]

So my new 10 gallon tank has be cycling for 48 hours now (fishless). I bought a brand new water test kit today, it's the one by API. I was very careful to do everything right and my results are as follows. This tank is going to be sorrority for my female bettas. Is it unusual for those to be so low on the first day? I did use the "Cycle" product distributed by the Hagen company. Any info would be nice

Ammonia: 0 ppm
Nitrate: 0 ppm
Nitrite: 0 ppm
pH: 7.6

 

[K.J.]

Did you add pure ammonia to it, or just Cycle to the water?

Have a look at this, I think it explains things pretty well.

Fishless Cycling

 

[HurleyInferno]

Did you add pure ammonia to it, or just Cycle to the water?

Have a look at this, I think it explains things pretty well.

Fishless Cycling

No i didnt do the pure ammonia..i guess i should..where can you get pure ammonia?

 

[K.J.]

Are you in the UK or the US?

 

[rdd1952]

You have to add ammonia or an ammonia source (fish flakes that decay and produce ammonia) to cycle. Otherwise, there will never be any bacteria in/on the filter, thus not cycled.

 

[Lhutch]

to cycle u need to add pure ammonia

 

[HurleyInferno]

ok well where can i ge the ammonia? i'm in the US

 

[HurleyInferno]

ok well where can i ge the ammonia? i'm in the US

I got the ammonia, and added it to my tank. First i figured out what 1 gallon would take, it was 5-6 to get it to 5 or 6 ppm. So i multiplied that by 10 to figure the amount for my 10 gallon, I did 60 drops. Should i test later tonight?

 

[rdd1952]

Walmart has pure ammonia. The brand they used to have was called Sea Mist (see photo below). Here is a link to a thread that will probably give you more locations. You can find ammonia at most grocery stores and places that sell cleaning supplies. Just make sure it doesn't have an detergents, perfumes, dyes or surfactants, only water and ammonia (chleating agets are ok too). If the label doesn't have ingredients on it, shake the bottle well. If it foams, it's no good. If there are just a few air bubbles that immediately diappear it is ok.

 

[HurleyInferno]

Walmart has pure ammonia. The brand they used to have was called Sea Mist (see photo below). Here is a link to a thread that will probably give you more locations. You can find ammonia at most grocery stores and places that sell cleaning supplies. Just make sure it doesn't have an detergents, perfumes, dyes or surfactants, only water and ammonia (chleating agets are ok too). If the label doesn't have ingredients on it, shake the bottle well. If it foams, it's no good. If there are just a few air bubbles that immediately diappear it is ok.

thank you, i got some at the local Giant Eagle, pure ammonia. It's added the the tank and the tank is currently at 5 ppm. I will check tomorrow morning.

 

[JamieBailie]

It may take up to a week to see any drop in the ammonia!

 

[HurleyInferno]

It may take up to a week to see any drop in the ammonia!

yeah no change this morning