Kellz Posted September 26, 2002 Report Share Posted September 26, 2002 When I recently aquired a new tank.. this sparked some interest from me.... Has anyone tried it? I had trouble locating ammonia hydroxide, I guess chemical suppliers would stock it...... I should ask my chemistry teacher at school... Personally I think its a great idea, no stress or undue harm to the fish only thing is the intial test kits would be $$$ but u should really have them anyway Or do u perfer the old fashioned way... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted September 26, 2002 Report Share Posted September 26, 2002 I'd try it. Don't need to though since I can always steal some media from my other tanks. I don't think you need ammonia hydroxide. Just regular ammonia that would probably be sold in the cleaning aisle of pak&save or wherever. Sounds like you've got a few tanks, so if I were you I'd grab media out of some of their filters to colonize the tank. Unless you want to do it out of curiosity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Posted September 26, 2002 Report Share Posted September 26, 2002 Ammonium hydroxide is also known as ammonia solution: NH3 + H2O <-> NH4OH I wouldn't use this for fishless cycling though, as it is going to push your pH up (ammonium hydroxide being a weak base). Often ammonium chloride (NH4Cl) is recommended as a source of ammonium for fishless cycling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted September 26, 2002 Report Share Posted September 26, 2002 It wouldn't matter what the PH is though during the cycle since after it's cycled you do a 100% water change. Hmmm...Unless the bacteria are sensitive to PH, which I wouldn't think would be the case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajbroome Posted September 27, 2002 Report Share Posted September 27, 2002 Rob said... > ... Often ammonium chloride (NH4Cl) is recommended as a > source of ammonium for fishless cycling. I could probably dig some up if anyone wanted to try it. I'm not responsible for what happens to your fish after you put them in a tank cycled this way though... Andrew. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warren Posted September 28, 2002 Report Share Posted September 28, 2002 It shouldn't effect your pH much anyway. You'll only be adding a few ppm's of NH4 so the effect on pH will be very small. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew 22 Posted October 3, 2002 Report Share Posted October 3, 2002 Rob wrote.. ..I wouldn't use this for fishless cycling though, as it is going to push your pH up I don’t think that ammonium hydroxide will change you pH as the dissociation equation that you wrote shows that ammonium hydroxide dissociates into ammonium as you said ammonium chloride being commonly used. I have a recommended dosage rate some were I will have to dig it up. Ira wrote.. ..It wouldn't matter what the PH is ...Unless the bacteria are sensitive to PH. Nitrasomonius and Nitrabactor (can’t spell it :oops: ) are the two common bacterial species that convert anomia to nitrite and nitrite to nitrate and their optimal pH is around 8 - 8.5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kellz Posted October 3, 2002 Author Report Share Posted October 3, 2002 The bacteria has been known to be affected at high pH's and nirtrites can be affected..... ie less than 6 but I don't think Fishless cycling would bring this on as water has to pretty neutral for us to drink it without burning our thoarts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Posted October 3, 2002 Report Share Posted October 3, 2002 I don't think that ammonium hydroxide will change you pH as the dissociation equation that you wrote shows that ammonium hydroxide dissociates into ammonium... I should have written the equation more correctly as follows (just didn't want a 'but where is the ammonium hydroxide in your equation' question NH3+H2O <-> NH4(+) + OH(-) So the hydroxide ion will effect pH. The chemistry stuff aside I now accept that the use of ammonia hydroxide as the source of ammonia probably wouldn't have any adverse effects for a number of reasons noted by other posters - a case of the little chemistry geek voice in my head getting control of the hands on key board before the fish geek voice could think it through properly . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew 22 Posted October 12, 2002 Report Share Posted October 12, 2002 Sorry about the wait but here are the vaues i prommesed for anyone wanting to try fishless cycling. I must first state that i have never used these theroetical values nd that any one that uses them dose so at there own risk. I would keep an eye on the ammonia nitrite and nitrate values during the process to see how things are going and that a compleat water change change AFTER the cycle has finished befre putting any fish in might be a good idear. To start a biological filter: -add NH3Cl @ 46 mg/L for 20 days -add NaNO2 @ 73 mg/L for 20 days -water temperature 20-28oC Note leave the heater on during the process as this will greatly accelerate the amount of bacterial growth. Good Luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.