Can't increase ammonia-level during cycling

[Highstreet]

Hi aquarium-people,

I'm new to the aquarium-hobby and I recently bought my first aquarium. I'm currently trying to cycle it, but have a problem with the ammonia-levels.
If I understand correctly, as a first step the ammonia level should be increased to about 5 ppm. I'm using a pure 25% ammonia solution, and the JBL testkit.

I have been experimenting, but no matter how much ammonia I add, I can't get the level higher then around 0.2 - 0.4 ppm

Does anybody have I clue what I might be doing wrong?

Regards,

Highstreet

 

[dcutl002]

Hi aquarium-people,

I'm new to the aquarium-hobby and I recently bought my first aquarium. I'm currently trying to cycle it, but have a problem with the ammonia-levels.
If I understand correctly, as a first step the ammonia level should be increased to about 5 ppm. I'm using a pure 25% ammonia solution, and the JBL testkit.

I have been experimenting, but no matter how much ammonia I add, I can't get the level higher then around 0.2 - 0.4 ppm

Does anybody have I clue what I might be doing wrong?

Regards,

Highstreet

Hmmm. My preference is not to add ammonia. I add BioZyme or some bacterial additive to the water. This friendly bacteria helps to breakdown the ammonia. Then I let the water age for at least a month and then add a small amount of fish. Trust me, once fish are added the ammonia will present itself and then you have to do PWCs. I prefer planted tanks and becuse of that my ammonia is always 0. My problem is Nitrates. I perform PWCs 2 or 3 times a week. my $0.02 which is worth.....nothing.

 

[jglover]

How big a tank and how much ammonia solution are you adding? You have an ammonia concentration of 250,000 mg/l in your stock.....10ml of that solution would contain 2500 mg of ammonia. Put that 10ml into a 20 gallon tank would give you a concentration 2500mg/75l = 33 mg/l of ammonia......so to get 4 or 5 ppm, you'd need to use about 2ml of solution in a 20 gallon tank.

 

[jglover]

Also, be sure your ammonia stock is fresh. Ammonia solution are gaseous ammonia dissolved in water. Essentially ammonium hyroxide. Over time the ammonia will slowly out gas and/or react and oxidize away, so if the solution is older, it may not contain 25% ammonia.