Adding Ammonia to speed up cycle

[bobbi619]

Is it true that you can add pure ammonia to cycle a tank, and how much should be used?

I am guessing that you use is until you start getting Nitrate readings!?

Sounds harsh, but now people are saying that robbing from my established tank will do no good w/out ammonia.

 

[OnyxFishies]

Is it true that you can add pure ammonia to cycle a tank, and how much should be used?

I am guessing that you use is until you start getting Nitrate readings!?

Sounds harsh, but now people are saying that robbing from my established tank will do no good w/out ammonia.

Yup, it sure is true. You can add pure ammonia to a fish tank to cycle it. BUT DO NOT DO THIS WITH FISH IN THE TANK! The levels of ammonia that are generally recommended (5 pmm) is really bad for fish. Not to mention it is very easy to add too much ammonia to the aquarium.. Not a big deal if there is no fish, (just do water changes to lower the level) but with fish I imagine even 1 minute in 25 or so ppm of ammonia would be lethal.

There is ton of info in the "Cycle" sticky at the top of the newbie freshwater forum, and here is a link to an article about fishless cycling.

http://www.tomgriffin.com/aquamag/cycle2.html

As for sources of ammonia, I found a brand of ammonia called "Sea Mist" at my local WalMart that is pure. (As far as I can tell.) The label says clear ammonia, and the ingredients list says "Ammonium Hydroxide solution and quality control agents". I don't know what the "quality control agents" are, but I doesn't have soap, perfume, ect in it. Ammonium hydroxide (NH4OH) is the form of ammonia that you want.

 

[TKOS]

Quality control agents I believe are chelating agents that help keep the ammonia from breaking down. At least that is what I read on this site somewhere.

Yes, an ammonia source is essential or else the bacteria has no food and won't grow. The ammonia is either fish waste or comes in a bottle. Rotting food also works but is much slower and probably worse smelling.