Question About Amonia Calculator

[Lisa67]

Just a quick question. I want to start a fishless cycle.. Using the calculator I put in my info: 16 gal tank/ I want to increase my amonia to 5/using a 100% amonia solution (provided ACE hardware has it). My answer was 0.3ml Can that be right? It seems from what I've read at this site that I should be using more than that. Seems 0.3 ml would be about 1 drop. Thank you

 

[Gazanimal]

The reason it's come out at 0.3ml is because you said you are using 100% ammonia.

Household ammonia will only be 9.5% ammonia + water, not 100% pure ammonia when it's bottled and sold.

 

[backtotropical]

Agreed. You will struggle to find 100% pure ammonia for sale because its pretty dangerous stuff. It's highly corrosive and will blow the nose off you.

As above, most household ammonia solutions are 9.5% ammonia.

 

[Gvilleguy]

Lisa67 - if you get the Janitorial Strength Ammonia from ACE - it is 10% ammonia. For your 16 gallon tank try using 1.5 to 2 ml of ammonia and see if that gets you up to 4-5 ppm of ammonia. I think it will. For my 26 gallon it took just over 3 ml ammonia.

You can try adding 1.5 ml, wait 20 minutes, and then test to see how it looks.

 

[Aqua Tom]

100% ammonia will have you on the FEDs watch list. stick with 9.5%.

 

[Lisa67]

I guess when I read that the amonia had to be pure I thought it meant 100% amonia. I went to ACE and got the janitorial strength stuff. Thank you all!

 

[Gvilleguy]

Don't sniff that stuff!! When I bought my bottle I accidentally got my nose near the opening and burned some nose hairs off!

 

[Lisa67]

I knew enough not to sniff it, but I must have gotten some on my fingers. My eyes were burning like crazy. Guess next time I'll wash my hands!