Ammonia for cycling?

[LuckyWanderer]

I have been cycling my 5.5 gallon tank for 3 weeks now with fish food. The first week was spent adding the food, waiting for it to decay, testing ammonia then adding more food. Since I am in the nitrite stage I really would like to not have to wait for food to decay. So today I went to the dollar store and picked up some ammonia. My question is how do I know if its safe for my aquarium? I will add some pictures of the label.

 

[RiphR]

Make sure the cap is screwed on tightly. Shake the bottle vigorously for about 5 seconds. If the ammonia foams up it is no good. No foam is what you want.l

 

[King Fisher]

The stuff I used said pure ammonia and I got it at Ace hardware.

 

[LuckyWanderer]

When I shake it it foams but then it goes away pretty fast.

If I put up a video of me shaking the bottle and link it, could you tell me if I can or can not use it?

 

[Angellove78]

You lost your patience... Something you should never loss with this hobby. Your so close.

 

[RiphR]

You should be good. Foam takes a while to disappear. When I did my fishless cycle I did a YouTube search " ammonia for fishless cycle " that's how I found the foam test.

 

[LuckyWanderer]

Just for peace of mind can you watch the video and tell me your verdict?

https://youtu.be/rj0F2GUaBtM

 

[Angellove78]

I don't know much about pure ammonia cycling. Never done it.

 

[LuckyWanderer]

The video is kind of low quality, I will shake then take a picture. The first is right after shaking the next is a few seconds after.

 

[RiphR]

I just poured some of my ammonia in a jar and shook it and it settled like yours did in your pictures. So I think you're good. Your video had more bubbles in your jug than my 900 ml bottle had in it.

 

[Matthew C.]

Why don't u go to your lfs, and see if they have Dr. Tim's, it's great, I used that...it's exactly the ammonia you would need to cycle. It's a small bottle....you don't need that unless ur going to clean your house with that purchase from Ace...lol

 

[Matthew C.]

It also could be found on Amazon, as well.

 

[Coralocean]

I don't see anything on the bottle that gives % of ammonia. I don't like how it says it shines all surfaces...I wouldn't trust it. I wasted a month with Ace Hardware "Pure Ammonia" it did not work for me, but others have had no problems. I ended up getting this (below) and cycled my 30 gallon in a week. Biologically Active Sponge Filters for Aquarium

 

[Angellove78]

If the cycle gets messed up it's just gonna take you longer and have to start all over. I really wouldn't change anything you've been doing. If I were you I'd just dump some fish food in a bottle of water and let it soak shake it up before you add some to the tank when need to.

 

[Reygan2]

Do you know anyone with a healthy, established aquarium? Media from their filter will have you cycled in no time.
I’ve cycled many tanks with Ace brand ammonia. I don’t trust the one you purchased. If you don’t have access to the Ace ammonia, then I agree with Angellove...just keep on keeping on with what you’re doing.

 

[LuckyWanderer]

I think I will just keep doing what I have been originally. I just wanted a faster way to get the ammonia concentration than having to wait for the food to rot and add more.

 

[Coralocean]

This is the bio sponge I got from Angel Plus. It looks like a borg cube in my new nano tank lol.

 

[Upstate TBarbs]

The only ammonia other than Dr Tims that I would trust is from Ace Hardware. It should say Janitor Strength on the bottle, and I believe it is 10% ammonia, 90% water.

 

[Reygan2]

The only ammonia other than Dr Tims that I would trust is from Ace Hardware. It should say Janitor Strength on the bottle, and I believe it is 10% ammonia, 90% water.

That’s the one.