Where To Buy Pure Ammonia?

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

Funny, the store I got it from was tiny. Was little a small village store, you can always order it online. I've heard teh Homebase ammonia is hit or miss whether it foams or not. If it foams its completely useless however you can see the liquid through the bottle so you can always hold it up to the light.

I'd just keep trying with the boots approach, you will find a store. Go on their site and look for a store nearby you, phone up and ask about ammonia and then if they straight away say no ask to speak to someone else in the store, the pharmacist or someone. Then ask them!

[Sorry can't find the post, you'll just have to trust me on this one. If you go to get the Homebase ammonia hold the white bottle up to a bright light and shake vigorously you should be able to see if any bubbles form, if bubbles form into a froth... bad news. If its just a bubble or two and they pop more or less instantly then it should be fine! Like I said though, hit or miss with the Homebase according to the previous topic I was talking about.

I actually out of fluke, asked the pharmacist yesterday, but there was none in (the shop is large but it's rubbish - I've been before for things and they've not had it). I have a boots in the centre of town, and a boots slightly further away (I may in fact go tonight as it's open late); Homebase is a bit harder to get to (I'll try the boots stores first) and if all else fails I'll order it online. My mam ironically asked, why don't the pet shops sell it! If only it was that easy eh! If the two big shops don't have it then I'm not likely to get it locally.

 

[JoshuaA]

I actually out of fluke, asked the pharmacist yesterday, but there was none in (the shop is large but it's rubbish - I've been before for things and they've not had it). I have a boots in the centre of town, and a boots slightly further away (I may in fact go tonight as it's open late); Homebase is a bit harder to get to (I'll try the boots stores first) and if all else fails I'll order it online. My mam ironically asked, why don't the pet shops sell it! If only it was that easy eh! If the two big shops don't have it then I'm not likely to get it locally.

I guess its one more product that would confuse the average fish keeper if its sold in your lfs (It would no doubt be marked up 500% more than any other shop and labelled "Cycle Ammonia" or some other marketing crap), also I've never ever heard of a LFS recommending you cycling without fish. Like I said phone up before you try. Where about do you live? Maybe I can look around for you if I get some free time. It would save you a lot of time phoning though and suffering disappointment.

I'm also going to guess you live North East because you said Mam.

 

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

I guess its one more product that would confuse the average fish keeper if its sold in your lfs (It would no doubt be marked up 500% more than any other shop and labelled "Cycle Ammonia" or some other marketing crap), also I've never ever heard of a LFS recommending you cycling without fish. Like I said phone up before you try. Where about do you live? Maybe I can look around for you if I get some free time. It would save you a lot of time phoning though and suffering disappointment.

I'm also going to guess you live North East because you said Mam.

Yup, North East; Newcastle

I managed to get some yesterday. The big shop I went to on Monday night probably had it in after all - I went to the biggest Boots last night and asked at the pharmacy - it's over the counter stuff (which is perfectly fine) - it's just a bit annoying that I could have got it on Monday. I can't start anything until my new test kit arrives anyway.

I've never heard of an LFT recommending cycling either - the only once I've been asked about fish is "how big is your tank (for goldfish)" and "what is he going in with? (for a betta)? Otherwise I've been asked nothing.

 

[JoshuaA]

I can't start anything until my new test kit arrives anyway.

I'm not really in the position to be the best to take advice from on this I hope someone like Assaye or Waterdrop will confirm this.

If you are fishless cycling from scratch, I wouldn't say your test kit is needed in the first few days, use the calculator at the top of the page aim for 4/5ppm as the guide I followed on this forum. There is little chance the ammonia will be processed in the next few days. I would just say put a bowl or cup of water to the side of what the tank is filled with before hand, and then you can do your "parameter" tests on that when your kit arrives. Likely you will find nitrates but that would be it, as well as a PH test.

Good Luck! Have you sniffed it yet? I wouldn't recommend doing so haha, can cause serious respiratory problems however it really makes you feel weird!

Edit: If you start now, worst case scenario you have to start again when your test comes. Or you can be a few days into your fishless cycle and everything going swimmingly!

 

[waterdrop]

Yes, that's an excellent suggestion from Joshua. Just do what he said. It will help you move the cycle along by a few days while you are waiting for your new test kit. WD

 

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

I can't start anything until my new test kit arrives anyway.

I'm not really in the position to be the best to take advice from on this I hope someone like Assaye or Waterdrop will confirm this.

If you are fishless cycling from scratch, I wouldn't say your test kit is needed in the first few days, use the calculator at the top of the page aim for 4/5ppm as the guide I followed on this forum. There is little chance the ammonia will be processed in the next few days. I would just say put a bowl or cup of water to the side of what the tank is filled with before hand, and then you can do your "parameter" tests on that when your kit arrives. Likely you will find nitrates but that would be it, as well as a PH test.

Good Luck! Have you sniffed it yet? I wouldn't recommend doing so haha, can cause serious respiratory problems however it really makes you feel weird!

Edit: If you start now, worst case scenario you have to start again when your test comes. Or you can be a few days into your fishless cycle and everything going swimmingly!

Yes, that's an excellent suggestion from Joshua. Just do what he said. It will help you move the cycle along by a few days while you are waiting for your new test kit. WD

If it hasn't arrived by Monday I will start it (good idea about keeping water asside). I just didn't want to start before the weekend as my mam would be in charge of looking after the tank; at least if I start it on Monday it'll be a few days and I can explain what to do for her for when the following weekend comes.

I 'steralized' my tank yesterday; it recommended leaving dry for a day or two just to make sure everything evaporated properly.

Can't say I've sniffed it yet lol (I haven't opened it yet).

I'll check the calculator now just in case I manage to get time to do it tonight.

 

[JoshuaA]

Have you planned how you're accurately going to measure the amount of Ammonia solution you need? I used a small cough medicine cup you know the little 10ml plastic cup things. However now I use one of the API test tubes as it cleans out much easier.

Honestly, you should just start it now, I have only just had my cycle kick in, it took 12 days for any sort of Ammonia reduction to take place. Like I said the worst is you may have added too much ammonia and you'll need to do a small water change! Just remember to water condition your tank and add the right amount of ammonia. I believe with the boots Ammonia if you want it at 5ppm you are looking at 1ml for every 20l of water. However the calculator will be more precise! Its just can you measure to that accuracy lol.

 

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

Did you start with a fresh filter or did you get some bacteria?

If I have time tonight then I'll start; if not it will be Monday at the earliest .

I have medicine droppers in the cupboard (apparently); if not I have droppers from budgie medicine lol (one is brand new).

 

[JoshuaA]

Did you start with a fresh filter or did you get some bacteria?

If I have time tonight then I'll start; if not it will be Monday at the earliest .

I have medicine droppers in the cupboard (apparently); if not I have droppers from budgie medicine lol (one is brand new).

I started with a brand new filter pretty much only added the water treatment and ammonia. Use this Calculator to calculate how much ammonia to add, I would recommend using a brand new medicinal pipette because you don't want to contaminate your tank water with any residue that may be remaining inside the pipette.

Just make sure everything is running... filter and heater, and just add it and wait! I really do recommend you adding the Ammonia ASAP otherwise you'll kick yourself in the head come this time next week when you realise you could of been an extra 4/5 days ahead.

 

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

Did you start with a fresh filter or did you get some bacteria?

If I have time tonight then I'll start; if not it will be Monday at the earliest .

I have medicine droppers in the cupboard (apparently); if not I have droppers from budgie medicine lol (one is brand new).

I started with a brand new filter pretty much only added the water treatment and ammonia. Use this Calculator to calculate how much ammonia to add, I would recommend using a brand new medicinal pipette because you don't want to contaminate your tank water with any residue that may be remaining inside the pipette.

Just make sure everything is running... filter and heater, and just add it and wait! I really do recommend you adding the Ammonia ASAP otherwise you'll kick yourself in the head come this time next week when you realise you could of been an extra 4/5 days ahead.

I plan on taking a big bacteria squeeze out of one of my other tanks, so I should see something quicker than you did (I was just wondering if I was looking at the same time scale or not).

 

[JoshuaA]

Did you start with a fresh filter or did you get some bacteria?

If I have time tonight then I'll start; if not it will be Monday at the earliest .

I have medicine droppers in the cupboard (apparently); if not I have droppers from budgie medicine lol (one is brand new).

I started with a brand new filter pretty much only added the water treatment and ammonia. Use this Calculator to calculate how much ammonia to add, I would recommend using a brand new medicinal pipette because you don't want to contaminate your tank water with any residue that may be remaining inside the pipette.

Just make sure everything is running... filter and heater, and just add it and wait! I really do recommend you adding the Ammonia ASAP otherwise you'll kick yourself in the head come this time next week when you realise you could of been an extra 4/5 days ahead.

I plan on taking a big bacteria squeeze out of one of my other tanks, so I should see something quicker than you did (I was just wondering if I was looking at the same time scale or not).

I had a squeeze of a friends... it did nothing for me, nor did "mature" gravel substrate. Just add the ammonia now and when you come round to giving it the squeeze if it works it will give it a kickstart. What I did with teh squeeze was take my filter sponges out and put them in a tub with the squeeze shook it up a little bit let it soak up as much of the "squeeze" as possible and then placed the filter foam back into the filter then poured the rest of the "squeeze" next to the filter when I turned it back on.

What I've learnt is... The time frames are completely different on peoples tanks I read a topic that someone had his cycle starting after 4 days! My gfs tank has been set up for about 40+ days and previously had fish in, then only when we raised the ammonia up to 4/5ppm for about 10 days did we see any sign of nitrite.

Lesson learnt - Don't follow p@h advice for tank setups.

 

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

I don't really like P@H anyway, the problem is for a lot of people that is the best shop around. I know I don't have a great selection and I have a lot of shops.

Oh yea time frames will vary hugely. I'm in no hurry for it to cycle; really. I want to decide on what to put in it; I had decided a betta but now I am thinking of other things

 

[JoshuaA]

I don't really like P@H anyway, the problem is for a lot of people that is the best shop around. I know I don't have a great selection and I have a lot of shops.

Oh yea time frames will vary hugely. I'm in no hurry for it to cycle; really. I want to decide on what to put in it; I had decided a betta but now I am thinking of other things

Well the good thing about fishless cycles are that you can continue "feeding" the bacteria even if you have completed the cycle. So if you are indecisive!

Update on my fishless I topped up the tank to 5ppm last night and its down 2ppm already, nitrite is at 2-5 and nitrate is 20. Its finally getting the ball rolling.

 

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

Glad to hear you are seeing results

I'm very indecisive about what I want in the tank. It's only small so I either want a fish/invertebre that will be happy alone, or in a maximum of 3.

 

[JoshuaA]

Glad to hear you are seeing results

I'm very indecisive about what I want in the tank. It's only small so I either want a fish/invertebre that will be happy alone, or in a maximum of 3.

I would say a rough guestimate of what you want could be achieved with this AqAdvisor

I however don't know what the general consensus is on this forum about that site but hey!