copious foam in tank durring cycle

[Pavo71]

I am attempting to do a fishless cycle.

I added the ammonia to 5ppm and there is foam rising out of the tank.

It looks like someone is doing the dishes.

What am I doing wrong, or does the ammonia change the surface tension that much.

Edit - the foam is 4" deep

 

[Linda S]

I think you used the wrong kind of ammonia. You have to get it without other ingridients in it From what I've read here on the forum the sell the right stuff at Ace Hardware. I think you will probably have to empty, rinse well so there is no soap and try again using the correct ammonia w/o sufficants.

 

[Pavo71]

Draining now.....

If I can't find the pure ammonia (ammonium hydroxide) any input on using pure crystalline ammonium nitrate which I have about 5 pounds of?

 

[THE V]

Ammonium nitrate will work but you may run into issues with very high nitrates and have to do a water change or two to balance it out. For every 5ppm of ammonia you add once the cycle gets started you'll have 10ppm of Nitrate. You'd have to do a little math to get to solution correct and dissolve the NH4NO3 in water first.

I'd just toss a shrimp, piece of fish, or some fish food in a nylon and allow the decomposition of protein to act as the ammonia source. Much easier and if you can seed your tank from an established tank first very quick.

 

[Pavo71]

Unfortunately I don't have an established tank to seed from and I sure don't trust the local PetCo for a sponge squeeze.

How much fish or shrimp do you think I will need for a 120 gal to get the ammonia levels at 5ppm, and how bad is that going to stink?