where to buy ammonia in the UK

[swaffs]

Hi everyone, need some help.... Been to 2 of my local aquatic centres to get some ammonia to cycle my tank, but they both say they don't stock ammonia.
Instead I was given waterlife biomature fluid which when I read the info on the box/leaflet it says it's feeds filtration bacteria.
Is this just another name for ammonia or have they given me the wrong thing?
Any help would be great,

 

[snoopy65]

I am not sure about the UK having ammonia in a regular store but, ammonia that is used for cleaning that you buy in the grocery store will be fine as long as it is just ammonia. Not lemon scent etc.

 

[OldMan47]

From what I have read, try Boots or a home improvement centre. Usually you will find ammonia in the cleaning products area in a US store because it is used as a glass cleaner. The LFS here would think you were crazy to want to buy ammonia because they make a living selling various nostrums that are said to get rid of ammonia. Some of the products actually work temporarily but the bacterial approach is much more stable and reliable in the long run.

 

[Coler]

Yep that sorta instant cycle stuff is basically snake oil and not to be trusted.

This side of the pond you're better off in a hardware store or chemist for ammonia (yep try boots ^) for ammonia. And it has to be pure ammonia no other chemical content.

 

[Catpicklesdog]

Or try good old fleebay http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Ammonium-Chloride-400g-Tank-Nitrogen-Cycler-sal-ammonia_W0QQitemZ290267571020QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item290267571020&_trkparms=72%3A1296%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

 

[OldMan47]

I have never tried using ammonium chloride instead of ammonia but it should work. It does look very expensive to me in that ad.

 

[krytan]

I have never tried using ammonium chloride instead of ammonia but it should work. It does look very expensive to me in that ad.

Everything is expensive over here.

 

[swaffs]

Thanks everyone, i've finally got some from a local hardware store. Will be starting the cycle next week as i'm going away for a long weekend.

 

[swaffs]

I forgot to add in my last post what the name of the product was to help others to find pure ammonia in the uk and possibly overseas.
Here is a link to their website:
http://www.max-on-line.co.uk/products/ammonia/index.html

Happy fish keeping

(I phoned the company to check if it was pure and they said yes, 9.5% ammonia the rest is water.)

 

[jm1212]

why not just use fish food?