Ammonia for cycling?

[Red2143]

There are a lot of posts recommending ace hardware janitorial ammonia but it seems the stores by me no longer carry that item. Are there any other acceptable ammonia sources outside of dr Tim?

 

[LRT]

Tell us more about your overall goal.
What size tank?
How do you plan on stocking it and what's going in it? Corals and Fish or just fish or corals only?
I'm not sure I would put anything in my tank thats not meant to go in a tank unless I could prove it's pure, food grade or otherwise.

 

[Red2143]

Tell us more about your overall goal.
What size tank?
How do you plan on stocking it and what's going in it? Corals and Fish or just fish or corals only?
I'm not sure I would put anything in my tank thats not meant to go in a tank unless I could prove it's pure, food grade or otherwise.

I am starting a fishless cycle in a biocube utilizing bottled bacteria. People historically recommended the ace hardware ammonia as a pure ammonia without detergent but it doesn’t seem to be available anymor.

 

[Rmckoy]

A raw shrimp from the seafood counter ….
all this searching for chemicals boggles my mind ….
Drop a raw shrimp and leave it .
no measuring , dosing and no rush

 

[LRT]

Agreed with above. @Red2143 what kind of rock are you using? Live or dead?

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

There are a lot of posts recommending ace hardware janitorial ammonia but it seems the stores by me no longer carry that item. Are there any other acceptable ammonia sources outside of dr Tim?

Fish food

 

[Rmckoy]

Fish food

I’ve never tried ghost feeding but I can only assume it’s as ease as dropping a raw shrimp in to decompose .
some recommend using a nylon to retrieve the decayed shrimp but I’ve always left it float around

I would assume fish food could be as concentrated once it begins to decompose

I’ve never tried dr Tim’s and to be honest it seams too involved for my liking
I don’t want to dose or test daily

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

A raw shrimp from the seafood counter ….
all this searching for chemicals boggles my mind ….
Drop a raw shrimp and leave it .
no measuring , dosing and no rush

For a biocube, if you use a shrimp, be sure to pull it back out after 2-3 days (once you get a positive ammonia test between 1 and 2). An entire shrimp in a 32 gallon tank is too much fuel

 

[Rmckoy]

For a biocube, if you use a shrimp, be sure to pull it back out after 2-3 days (once you get a positive ammonia test between 1 and 2). An entire shrimp in a 32 gallon tank is too much fuel

More fuel = more power …..

My smallest tank was a 75
1 whole shrimp brought the ammonia to almost 4ppm and at that time ( late 90’s ) 4ppm was the advice given

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

I’ve never tried ghost feeding but I can only assume it’s as ease as dropping a raw shrimp in to decompose .
some recommend using a nylon to retrieve the decayed shrimp but I’ve always left it float around

I would assume fish food could be as concentrated once it begins to decompose

I’ve never tried dr Tim’s and to be honest it seams too involved for my liking
I don’t want to dose or test daily

Yeah, really anything that will decay. Raw seafood is generally used since it shouldn't contain anything "foreign" to a saltwater system. You could conceivable toss in the last bite of the hamburger you're eating for dinner that day... Lol

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

More fuel = more power …..

My smallest tank was a 75
1 whole shrimp brought the ammonia to almost 4ppm and at that time ( late 90’s ) 4ppm was the advice given

Ok. (This is not really the best idea, but whatever works for you . Still better than bottled ammonia IMO)

 

[Rmckoy]

Yeah, really anything that will decay. Raw seafood is generally used since it shouldn't contain anything "foreign" to a saltwater system. You could conceivable toss in the last bite of the hamburger you're eating for dinner that day... Lol

I don’t think I want to waste bacon and cheese along with the beef grease

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

I don’t think I want to waste bacon and cheese along with the beef grease

Mmmmm... bacon cheeseburger

 

[Rmckoy]

Mmmmm... bacon cheeseburger

See ……
Would you save a bite to cycle a tank ?

Nope !

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

See ……
Would you save a bite to cycle a tank ?

Nope !

Well, I didn't know you ate fancy burgers...

 

[Rmckoy]

Well, I didn't know you ate fancy burgers...

That’s fancy ?
I always thought there was only 1 kind .
im more of a t bone or rib steak and salad type but the odd craving for clogged arteries never hurt

 

[Rmckoy]

Well, I didn't know you ate fancy burgers...

In general . I eat the crappiest at breakfast

 

[Rmckoy]

My tank eats better than I do most days

 

[FishFamilyRobinson]

Stay away from Walmart/Great Value clear ammonia for sure. All kinds of additives.