View Full Version : For fishless cycling...
NJ Devils Fan
12-07-2002, 10:25 AM
how much pure amonia should I add to a 72g tank?
Anton Wernher
12-07-2002, 12:16 PM
Add untill the test reads 5 ppm
You have to go by ppm, because "pure ammonia" just means there's nothing else but water in it, NOT that it's nothing but ammonia. The concentration varies from brand to brand.
My no-name brand is 4% (I emailed the company and they were happy to tell me.) It can be twice that or higher (I don't know of any household ammonia less than 4%)
NJ Devils Fan
12-07-2002, 6:57 PM
I don't understand how pure ammonia isn't 100% ammonia. I know that the one I have, I have to water it down before use it. Anyway, If anyone can help a little more clearer, Is there like a certain amount of drops per gallon I should add? And how often should I add?
NJ Devils Fan
12-07-2002, 9:10 PM
anyone.......anyone.......
It's hard to say how much you will need to add to get to 5ppm. I would suggest that you just add some, and then test and then add more until you get to ~5ppm.
NJ Devils Fan
12-07-2002, 9:51 PM
And then what after it reaches there?
This article should answer many of your questions about fishless cycling.
http://www.tomgriffin.com/aquamag/cycle2.html
koolkatzfish
12-08-2002, 3:24 AM
I was told a drop per gallon, for a 72 gallon I would measure the drops in a med cup so you know how and don't have to count. The second tank I fishless cycled, I added the drop per gallon daily until I reached 5 ppm, then cut it in half and only added it a couple times a week, it worked great. My 1st tank I added double and I think it slowed the cycle down.
JSchmidt
12-09-2002, 8:37 AM
Most of us don't have access to "pure" ammonia (I know I don't) so I don't know how much help you'll get. Most of the ammonia sold retail is household ammonia, a dilution of ammonia. There seems to be some variation in the concentration of that dilution, so it's hard to say how much ammonia has to be added to one's tank. The only way I know is trial-and-error...
Jim
Just add the ammonia, test for ppm, if it's not at 5ppm add some more.......it's not critical. You just need a 5ppm each time you test. When your nitrites start to come up keep adding ammonia to feed them. If you keep track of how much ammonia it took to get your 5ppm, when the nitrites start to come up real well, cut back on the ammonia to about 1/2. You just need enough ammonia to keep the cycle going.
Len
PS You can really cut down on the cycle time if you add a handful or more of substrate and some filter media from a cycled tankl.