Help! Added "Surfactant ammonia" to cycle!

[happychem]

Okay, here goes.

When we say rinse, we mean everything and anything that has been in contact with the water and surfactants. Get new filter media.

Celeste, if it didn't foam when shaken, then you're fine.

A chelate (KEY-late) is a large organic molecule used to "grab" other, smaller molecules and atoms. Since NH3 can be a gas and in concentrated solutions (or even 10% solutions ) will evaporate, chelates are added to keep ammonia in solution and extend the shelf life of the bottle. Ammonium, btw, does not have a gaseous form.

Do not be fooled into thinking that because a 10% solution of NH3 will lose its clout over time that you can use aeration to remove ammonia from your tank. There's a world of difference between removing NH3 from a 10% solution and your aquarium which will have, at most, about 100,000 times less ammonia.

 

[RTR]

By porous I really should have said that anything other than hard smooth-surfaced material I would replace. I had much rather buy new media, gravel, etc. than new fish.

Because of all the posts about finding suitable clear ammonia, I tend to notice when I am shopping. Many if not most of the big box stores and discount operations offer store-brand inexpensive household ammonia which is ammonium hydroxide + chetator (already discussed by happychem) in water. Other than lab supply houses (not easy to find outside of large metro areas and more expensive), the cheaper the store, the better your chance of finding clear ammonia. If they have several variants, look at the cheapest first, additives cost more and provide branding differences, so carry higher costs to the consumer as often as not.

 

[Blueiz]

Is everyone that is having trouble finding ammonia sure that you are looking in the right place in the store? The ammonia should be located on the washing powder aisle around the bleach, or with the household cleaning products. I am not trying to make anyone feel or sound foolish, I had trouble myself finding its location. Just a thought... Have a great day!!!

 

[Xielos]

I have a bottle of ammonia that dosen't foam but says contains surfacants. Still confused

 

[happychem]

The foaming would come from detergents.

Surfactants act in a similar manner. Sorry for the short answer, I gotta run, but wanted to give you a little info.

 

[Blueiz]

surfactants are detergents. You should not use any ammonia that has this as an ingriedient regardless if it suds or not. Make sure you get plain ammonia. The only ingriedients that should be on the bottle are water,, ammonia, and cheleating agents. Hope this helps!!

 

[Xielos]

So chelating stuff is ok? Sweet, the stuff at Wal-Mart is ok then :idea2:

 

[RTR]

For many, Wal-Mart is the surest source. Ace harware is fairly widespread also, and locally for me CVS drug stores offers a comparable cheap and safe house brand.