cycling a aquarium using ammonia?

jerky48183 · Nov 6, 2013

Has anyone cycled a aquarium using ammonia and if so how much did u use. I have a 220 gallon aquarium with a id guess around a 75 gallon refugium i just set up i got the temp and salinity level right. I have 2 other tanks im gonna combine into the 220 and dont want to add new live rock just yet. The sump has refugium mud in it and im adding some store bought bacteria how much ammonia should i add to start a cycle. Ive cycled my other tanks with live rock any adviced i'd appreciate.

mike007 · Nov 6, 2013

As you have done i have cycled all my tanks with good live rock and bacterial additives. I don't think i would use ammonia myself. Many people use a dead shrimp to cycle. I really don't understand why when the method i use has always worked for me.

jerky48183 · Nov 6, 2013

I know that's a good way my problem is my live rock in my other 2 tanks that's going into the new one have corals growing on them. I was hoping to cycle it with ammonia since I've heard it's a good way to go and add my live stock I already have once its finished.

twintrades · Nov 6, 2013

Yea ive used ammo. Just get pure stuff. Like from ACE hardware. If you shake the bottle the bubbles will pop within 3 secs. If it foams its not safe.

I add about that much.... Lol Add a lil at a time test... add more ... test I shoot for about 4-8 PPM lol some times its off the chart.

I tryed some of the Foster and smith brand LIVE nitrafying bacteria. Stuff works! money back if it dosnt. Had a bucket with all dead rock added ammo and to much bacteria (cant overdose) 3 days later i had to add more Ammo to keep it going. Now im good to go Cycled in about 1 week. ( and now i dont need the rock lol)

russo36 · Nov 6, 2013

I did mine like mike... And It was cycled within 2 weeks or so... 6 months later and my readings have never changed.., keep my fingers crossed... I try to test my water once or twice a week to make sure everything is running smooth.... One thing I find weird is that I didn't get any algae outbreak like others have posted during cycling... Just a lil of the brown stuff on the glass but that is easy to handle... I'll keep my fingers crossed and hope it all continues the way is going.

glb · Nov 6, 2013

I've used ammonia in a freshwater cycle. Much cleaner than shrimp. Just don't add too much or getting the nitrates down will be a nightmare! I got mine at ace hardware too. Good luck!!

lemonyx · Nov 8, 2013

ammonia chloride

gtbarsi · Nov 8, 2013

I did it and used the DR Tim's method. Details on the web site and he sells a pure ammonia solution that is stable and safe. I tried to find a good ammonia at ACE, Home Depot, Loews, and Walmart. My local Ace could have gotten some in but the whole guessing game sounded crappy. Also used his One & Only to get the process started and the cycle was fast and painless.

Once I started adding livestock there was no detectable mini-cycle and everything has been working well that way.

JLight · Nov 8, 2013

If you go to doctor tims website they sell pure ammonia along with they're one and only bacteria. Stuff works wonders.

impur · Nov 8, 2013

I did it on my biocube using the ammonia from Ace Hardware. Worked great! I only used a very small amount since its a small tank

robbrouse · Nov 8, 2013

Ace Hardware brand. Done several freshwater and 2 salt water and working on a third.

Coraloliseffect · Nov 8, 2013

Many many times.
Ammonia and some one and only dr tims or biospira. Is how I cycle my quarantine about every time.
Dr Tim is reportedly the biologist behind BioSpira he later left io and started dr Tim's.

The Marine aquarium handbook beginner to breeder has a nice recipe on how to hard cycle a tank with ammonia

flyingfish · Nov 28, 2013

I am cycling with dr Tim's ammonia. I've done a third dose of it. Got up to 1.5 ppm ammonia. It drops to 0 after 48 hrs not 24. Should I keep dosing? Thanks

Flameback Pair · Nov 30, 2013

Where can I get DrTims ammonia online? Looked everywhere.

Eienna · Dec 1, 2013

powers2001 said:
Where can I get DrTims ammonia online? Looked everywhere.

Flyingfish meant Dr. Tim's AND ammonia. Just get Ace Hardware Janitorial Strength Ammonia and Dr. Tim's One and Only for saltwater (he also makes it for FW). I get my Dr. Tim's on Amazon.com but some LFSes carry it.

Watch it with that ammonia - the fumes are so strong I have to hold my breath when I open it or I end up in a coughing fit.

JLight · Dec 1, 2013

Eienna said:
Flyingfish meant Dr. Tim's AND ammonia. Just get Ace Hardware Janitorial Strength Ammonia and Dr. Tim's One and Only for saltwater (he also makes it for FW). I get my Dr. Tim's on Amazon.com but some LFSes carry it. Watch it with that ammonia - the fumes are so strong I have to hold my breath when I open it or I end up in a coughing fit.

Actually Dr . Tim does sell they're own ammonia to go along with their One and only. You can buy it here http://www.drtimsaquatics.com/

Eienna · Dec 1, 2013

JLight said:
Actually Dr . Tim does sell they're own ammonia to go along with their One and only. You can buy it here http://www.drtimsaquatics.com/

Huh. I didn't know that.

flyingfish · Dec 1, 2013

I have an extra bottle unopened too. I can send it to you for $10. Includes shipping. Not sure what Tim's sells it for. And yes I used one n only also the first day per instructions. I have ATM s colony I wanted to try also. Doing my first big water change today. Was going to add it after that. Then do a second possibly third water change over the next couple weeks if I need to.

Congaken · Jan 11, 2016

powers2001 said:
Where can I get DrTims ammonia online? Looked everywhere.

EBay...

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jan 11, 2016

I think Tim's writeup is a reasonable one to read on ammonia cycling, whether you choose to use his bacteria, or wait a bit longer for it naturally. Your refugium mud will bring a lot of bacteria with it:

http://www.drtimsaquatics.com/resources/how-to-start