hi all,
i want to start a fishless cycle and i was just wondering where one can find pure ammonia. i tried the grocery store with no luck. i hate running around all day from store to store, so i just wanted to know what sorts of stores would carry the stuff so i can narrow my list of possible places.
thank you so much!!
Full Version: Pure Ammonia
Hi Lorelei!
If you live in the states, you can get the right ammonia at Ace Hardware! Go to acehardware.com and check for a location near you! It's their own brand, and it's what I've used!
Good luck!!!
Debbie
If you live in the states, you can get the right ammonia at Ace Hardware! Go to acehardware.com and check for a location near you! It's their own brand, and it's what I've used!
Good luck!!!
Debbie
I found some at my wal mart. It says Great Value clear ammonia and when I shook the bottle it did not foam. It actual says on the package under ingredients softened water, ammonia, chelating agent. I was worried because I didn't know what a chelating agent was but someone (I believe Trinket) said she thought it was okay to use, since it did not foam. I used it to keep my tank cycled while it was empty for a few weeks. And then used it and some filter media from my29 gallon tank to cycle a 10 gallon and it was done it 4 days! Hope that helps.
QUOTE(CountryLovah @ Jun 13 2008, 11:51 PM) 
I found some at my wal mart. It says Great Value clear ammonia and when I shook the bottle it did not foam. It actual says on the package under ingredients softened water, ammonia, chelating agent. I was worried because I didn't know what a chelating agent was but someone (I believe Trinket) said she thought it was okay to use, since it did not foam. I used it to keep my tank cycled while it was empty for a few weeks. And then used it and some filter media from my29 gallon tank to cycle a 10 gallon and it was done it 4 days! Hope that helps.
@Fishy Fish: unfortunately, the nearest Ace Hardware is 20-30 minutes away, and gas money is soooo expensive at the moment. D: but if i don't find it at nnnnnn, i will go there. thank you!
@CountryLovah: what is a filter media? i'm sorry, i'm kind of new at having a Real Live Proper Tank for my fishie, and i don't know all the terms yet.
i will look at nnnnnn, tho! thanks!
Haha. No problem. I just came on here a few weeks ago and the first time someone gave me advice I had absolutely NO idea what they were talking about! I am still trying to learn the right words : ) They asked me for my tank parameters and I tried to get a ruler and start measuring the tank LOL
Basically filter media is whatever materials are in your filter. Like for mine, I actually started out with a Penguin 200 filter, and it comes with filter cartridges. But you can pack in extra filter material as well, even in the filters that come with pre-made cartridges. My original filter came with a space for two cartridges. But I wound up not wanting to use the carbon (the black gravel looking type stuff that comes in the cartridges) because I was medicating the fish, and the carbon absorbs the medication. But I didn't want to get rid of ALL of the cartridge material, because that is where most of the beneficial bacteria grow which are important for cycling the tank. So I wound up cutting open my cartridges, removing the carbon, but replacing the actual cartridges into the filter. And now I have lots of extra filter material shoved in as well. You can go to the store and buy all kinds of stuff that is "made" for people with canister filters, but you can use it in the cartridge type filters as well. So when I went to cycle my 10 gallon tank, I took out some of it, and put it in the new one. It definitly sped up the process. But if this is your first tank then that probably won't really be an option. Either way I think it's great that you are going to do a fishless cycle! I wish I had done it that way originally. It's going to be so much less stressful for you, and it's great that no fish have to go through the process. If this is your first time setting up a "real" tank this website is going to be soooo helpful to you. I'm not much further along than you. I'm just now getting my first real tank to where it's up and running and the water is doing good. I've just been reading koko's obsessively for about a month now : ) Let us know how everything turns out!
By the way you've probably seen it already but if not there is a good article on koko's on how to cycle, AND how to fishless cycle. Check them out if you haven't already:
http://www.kokosgoldfish.com/cycle.html
http://www.kokosgoldfish.com/FishlessCycle.html
Basically filter media is whatever materials are in your filter. Like for mine, I actually started out with a Penguin 200 filter, and it comes with filter cartridges. But you can pack in extra filter material as well, even in the filters that come with pre-made cartridges. My original filter came with a space for two cartridges. But I wound up not wanting to use the carbon (the black gravel looking type stuff that comes in the cartridges) because I was medicating the fish, and the carbon absorbs the medication. But I didn't want to get rid of ALL of the cartridge material, because that is where most of the beneficial bacteria grow which are important for cycling the tank. So I wound up cutting open my cartridges, removing the carbon, but replacing the actual cartridges into the filter. And now I have lots of extra filter material shoved in as well. You can go to the store and buy all kinds of stuff that is "made" for people with canister filters, but you can use it in the cartridge type filters as well. So when I went to cycle my 10 gallon tank, I took out some of it, and put it in the new one. It definitly sped up the process. But if this is your first tank then that probably won't really be an option. Either way I think it's great that you are going to do a fishless cycle! I wish I had done it that way originally. It's going to be so much less stressful for you, and it's great that no fish have to go through the process. If this is your first time setting up a "real" tank this website is going to be soooo helpful to you. I'm not much further along than you. I'm just now getting my first real tank to where it's up and running and the water is doing good. I've just been reading koko's obsessively for about a month now : ) Let us know how everything turns out!
By the way you've probably seen it already but if not there is a good article on koko's on how to cycle, AND how to fishless cycle. Check them out if you haven't already:
http://www.kokosgoldfish.com/cycle.html
http://www.kokosgoldfish.com/FishlessCycle.html
If you have any small local hardware stores nearby, these are good places to find plain ammonia. It is usually the small mom and pop stores that have it, rather than the big box stores or supermarkets. Good luck! 
QUOTE(CountryLovah @ Jun 14 2008, 06:52 AM)
Haha. No problem. I just came on here a few weeks ago and the first time someone gave me advice I had absolutely NO idea what they were talking about! I am still trying to learn the right words : ) They asked me for my tank parameters and I tried to get a ruler and start measuring the tank LOL
The same thing happened to me on another website.....
In Belgium you can get it easily enough at an apothecary/pharmacist (drug store?). Is it the same in the US/UK?
(a tip for those fellow Belgians, if any: PP and HP can also be found at the apothecary, and much cheaper than in regular shops)
(a tip for those fellow Belgians, if any: PP and HP can also be found at the apothecary, and much cheaper than in regular shops)
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