Ammonia testing

[Temeraire]

I've read people saying that ammonia levels at or above 0.25 ppm (mg/L) are dangerous for fish. My Nutrafin test kit's first readable level is 0.6 mg/L, and it says that anything under 1.2 mg/L is safe when using Nutrafin Cycle Biological Aquarium Supplement. From what I've read it is unlikely products of this nature will do much good (though I could be wrong).

Should I start using a different test? If so, what are some of the more popular (and therefor hopeful more accurate) ones?

[jpappy789]

There really is nothing special about the .25 ppm level, only that it is the first measurable amount of ammonia for the API test kit. Any amount of ammonia is harmful to fish so it's advisable to do a water change whenever you detect ammonia. For that reason I would highly suggest a more precise test kit, especially since it sounds like you are going through a fish cycle.

And you are correct. Almost all the the "biological supplements" or "instant cycle" products do not work.

[sleepyskater]

Everyone Is gunna say API test kit. Cause it's the best of the best.
and what jpappy said :)

[ssalmons]

i'm still new and can only tell you what I've done per the recommedation of the people here. I use the api kit also. My experience was that it is accurate as long as you don't use any ammonia locking additives. When I tried using the bacteria starting your talking about, the only thing that happened was I ended up with a bacteria bloom and it made my water look terrible. I would advise to stay the heck away from that. But in the end, listen to the people here, they seem to really know what they are talking about

[sleepyskater]

:iagree: again!
but really, some people here know what there talking about

[jm1212]

a bacterial bloom is going to happen even if you dont add the bacterial additive. the bloom is part of the cycle, and is a response to the rising ammonia.

if you get a reading of 0.6 with your test kit, do a 50% water change. it would be better to get a more accurate test kit though.

a word on bacterial additives- most would actually work if they were refrigerated. the bottles that sit on the shelves at room temperature are all filled with dead bacteria.

[Temeraire]

Are you saying that I should do a water change at 0.6 now that I've finally reached it?

[ssalmons]

most of the people here told me to do a 25 to 50 % daily water change daily until everything stabalized. but like i said, I am new, I am just telling you what was told to me.

[shawnhu]

Are you saying that I should do a water change at 0.6 now that I've finally reached it?


The water change applies to fish-cycle. Sounds like you're doing a fishless-cycle, so no need to change the water until the cycle is complete.

[OldMan47]

Temeraire, the nature of the tank will significantly affect what you need to do. If you have detectable ammonia levels and have fish in the tank, a large partial water change is needed. If you have no fish in the tank and are dosing with ammonia to get your filter going, it would be time to bring the levels back up if you are at the lowest value you can read. Without more information from you, we are really being left in the dark.

[Temeraire]

Haha, I didn't provide that information originally because it wasn't really that important to the original question.

I'm cycling a 10 gallon by feeding it fish food (which is taking a painfully long time just to see a readable amount of ammonia, a week to get 0.6ppm).

[Mokomon]

I wish I could bottle & sell my well water
Mine reads 2.0 ammonia right out of the tap :)

[Temeraire]

Wow... Must make being an aquarist that much more difficult. :eek:

[Mokomon]

Not really...

I heavily planted my tank, added some Zebra danio's, and was cycled in 3 days
I kid you not!


Now, when I do water changes, I just use Prime

[Temeraire]

Your tanks must have quite the bacterial cultures in order to support fish. :evil_lol:

[Mokomon]

:D

[jpappy789]

Get some pure ammonia and cycle with that. You'll get a higher level quicker and you'll be able keep it at that amount...

[Temeraire]

Get some pure ammonia and cycle with that. You'll get a higher level quicker and you'll be able keep it at that amount...

I'm fairly certain that stores don't sell amonia anymore, at least not where I live. My Chem teacher has mentioned that it is no longer used as a cleaning substance due to it being hard on the environment, though that didn't stop me from looking for it anyway.

Here's an update on my tank. The bottom and decorations have a coating of fish food which is gross and is going to be a pain to clean, but my ammonia has started to go up. Two days ago: 0.6ppm, yesterday: ~0.9ppm, today: 1.8~2.0 ppm. Bacteria definitely increase exponentially. I think I may actually have to take measures to keep ammonia readings down after I'm finally getting some. Today's reading might be higher or lower than what it actually is due to being between two exact measurements.

Edit: To be more specific, there is about 3g of fish food in there- I know because the entire sample pack of it has been added over the course of a week or so.

[Veloth]

When I cycled one of my tanks I kept the ammonia a 4ppm until nitrites started then I just shot the same amount in until the nitrates started. All the stores in my area carry pure ammonia. Good luck on your cycle.

[Temeraire]

When I asked for ammonia at my lfs I was lead without a word to a bottle of cycling product. Most of her other advice was close to par, except telling me I could keep an angel in a 10 gallon.

And I did try more than just the pet store for ammonia before anyone says anything about that. XD

[jpappy789]

I've never heard of stores not being allowed to sell ammonia anymore...the last time I really checked was 2 summers ago when I cycled my 55 gallon, but I'm sure people would stop recommending this cycling method if that was true.

I guess if you cannot find the ammonia the other methods mentioned do work, however they may take a little more time and effort.

[Temeraire]

Idk, I live in Canada, not sure how far it goes, but I'm fairly certain it at least applies to my province. If we aren't completely free of ammonia based cleaning products they're on their way out, as far as I know.

[colinsk]

Idk, I live in Canada, not sure how far it goes, but I'm fairly certain it at least applies to my province. If we aren't completely free of ammonia based cleaning products they're on their way out, as far as I know.

This does not sound right. The amount of ammonia getting into the envrionment from cleaning chemicals compared to urine or paper pulp processing makes this an unlikely target for legislation.

Call your local hardware store and ask them if they have any unscented ammonia. Here in the US it is $2 for more than you would ever use. It usually comes diluted to 10%. Here is a link to one of my local chains:

http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1307957

My local grocery has it but it is scented and likely has surfactants as well.

[Temeraire]

Erm, like I said, I live in Canada, and until I visited this forum I didn't know there was a chain called Ace. I've visited a few grocery stores and other non grocery stores that would carry cleaning products and didn't see anything with ammonia in it, but I could have missed it. I've learned in the past that the moment I make it clear I'm sure about something I'm proven wrong.

Either way I'm finally seeing ammonia from the decomposing fish food and I'll probably keep going this route as I'm sure I have enough food in the tank already for it to go through the rest of the cycle without more.

Edit: After a quick search I am unable to find any policies against the selling of ammonia products where I live. I'll ask my chem teacher about it come monday and it may just be that I misheard her...

[colinsk]

My dad lives in BC. I wish I got up there more. It is one of my favorite places. Good luck with the cycle. My tank is about 6 weeks into a fishy cycle and finally settling down.

[Temeraire]

I know this thread is 4 days old, but I really want to correct myself. What my teacher had actually said was that ammonia isn't used as much, not that it isn't used at all.