Quickly cycle aquarium.

legendaryfrog

legendaryfrog

Tactical Refreshment Action
Nov 25, 2006
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arlington heights - hoffman estates, IL
Hi everybody! My parents 180 gallon is having extreme dificulty cycling. i have tryied food, 2 cocktail shrimp, and more food. Ive been to stores, but i cant find pure ammonia.

Has anyone tried those nitrogen-cycle-staters from petsmart?
 
Ive heard that those cycle starters are pretty much BS. WOnder why its having so much trouble cycling.

How long has it been up?

You can get pure ammonia in the cleaning isle of most stores if im not mistaken.
 
Can you get to a Farm Service location or hobby/toy store that sells stock for chemistry experiment kits?

~15g pure ammonium nitrate will yield ~5ppm ammonia and ~20ppm NO3 for 180g (if my math is correct).
 
One of the best places to check is a hardware store, like ACE. Do you have any hardware stores like that?
 
legendaryfrog said:
Hi everybody! My parents 180 gallon is having extreme dificulty cycling. i have tryied food, 2 cocktail shrimp, and more food. Ive been to stores, but i cant find pure ammonia.

Has anyone tried those nitrogen-cycle-staters from petsmart?
Click to expand...

The only thing that really works at almost instantly cycling a tank is Bio-Spira. The product "cycle" does nothing for the most part...

Tom
 
There is no real "quick" way. I wait about a week (after checking my water is ok-ish) then add a few really hardy fish. Cherry barbs, zebra danios,certain tetras. Then see how they get on and wait about 2 weeks to add a larger but still small batch of fish on the "wanted" list.(The wanted list being which particular fish to intend or really want in your tank)
 
I would keep looking for ammonia. Ammonia used should be free of surfactants, perfumes, and colorants. Always read the ingredients on the bottle. The best sources for Pure or Clear Ammonia are discount grocery stores or hardware stores. Often, the no-name brand is the stuff you're looking for. Some other people have reported success with the following brand names of Ammonia: Top Crest or Whirl Clear Ammonia. If it doesn't list the ingredients or say Clear Ammonia (or Pure Ammonia or 100% Ammonia, or Pure Ammonium Hydroxide), then leave it on the shelf and look elsewhere. Shake the bottle if you're not sure about it because Ammonia with surfactants will foam, while "good" Ammonia will not.
 
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im not that stupid.


after 5 healthy aquariums i think id get the idea not to do that.
 
TommyR said:
The only thing that really works at almost instantly cycling a tank is Bio-Spira. The product "cycle" does nothing for the most part...

Tom
Click to expand...

I've also had great results with bio-nitrivec. It's easier for me to get in Canada, needs to be in a fridge only after opening and the guy who told me about it (Vancouver lfs) has been using it in his store for years. He had a customer who ran a lab at the University and actually tested it against Cycle etc..

Hope it helps.

NB
 
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