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  1. #21
    Just an Egg
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Adelaide
    Posts
    43
    Quote Originally Posted by samir
    cloudy does not work
    Thanks for that...saves me wasting my time. Is the clear still available? .

    A Mitre outlet didn't stock it and I've only seen the cloudy in the supermarket and 'cheap as chips'. I'm guessing maybe a pool maintainence supplier may do it or a specialist hardware shop.

  2. #22
    Eternal Moderator Merrilyn's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2004
    Location
    Melbourne Vic.
    Posts
    8,692
    The problem with cloudy ammonia is that it has detergent in it, and we sure don't need that in the tank.

    Clear ammonia has been harder and harder to find over the last couple of years. Seems it's an ingredient in bombs or something.

    Anyway, I've been suggesting adding an uncooked prawn to the tank. As it decomposes, it provides a good source of ammonia. It's not ideal, and your ammonia readings will be all over the place, but it eventually cycles your tank and you'll have a big healthy bio colony in the end.
    Thirty-five years keeping and breeding discus, and I'm still learning :P

    Merrilyn has passed, but will not be forgotten - Goodbye dear friend

  3. #23
    Just an Egg
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Adelaide
    Posts
    43
    Cheers, definitely hard to find! I've tried hardware shops and chemists to no avail. My last effort is tomorrow with a local supplier of hardware and reagents for scientific and research purposes. Will try and see if I can get it for business reasons though I can't think of any at the moment - though I am in the defence sector

    If I'm unsuccessful, I'll try the prawns - any idea how long the prawn method takes? I've a 4x2x2 tank.

  4. #24
    Just an Egg
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Adelaide
    Posts
    43
    I managed to get some clear ammonia yesterday, (2.5 litre bottle was all they had) - its potent right enough. Just one accidental sniff of the stuff as I was putting it into the tank reminded me, not that a reminder was needed, to treat it with utmost care and respect.

    Roll on a mature filter!!

  5. #25
    Just an Egg
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    at my house
    Posts
    53
    Right stupid question i have been dying to ask for ages. But before i do i want to make it absolutly clear that i never intend to do this, nor do i recommend that anyone else tries it.

    What about wee?
    Its sterile when it leaves the body, comprises mostly of ammonia, and is readily available

    So, from a purely inquisitive point of view. Is it possible to cycle a tank by peeing into it?

  6. #26
    Larvae
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    104
    good heavens!!!! Hmm, well I cant wait till I hear what the answer would be.. interesting..

  7. #27
    Hi, I'm New Here!
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Brisbane, Queensland
    Posts
    2
    Yes pee will work, just don't use pee after you've been drinking.

    Fish food will work too once it starts to break down.

    Many sources of ammonia out there.

  8. #28
    San Merah Discus TW's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Menai, Sydney, Australia
    Posts
    1,739
    Quote Originally Posted by Top Bhoy
    I managed to get some clear ammonia yesterday
    What brand did you get? You probably no longer have the bottle, but if you do, are you able to post a pix?
    Previously known as "Tankwatcher"

  9. #29
    Wrigglers
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Beaumont Hills, Sydney
    Posts
    267
    There is no need to add ammonia as such to the tank.

    If you add something like Nitrivec to the tank as per instructions the tank should cycle without using fish.

    You may add a little fish flake to help with ammonia if you wish.
    Cheers
    Bart

  10. #30
    Moderator
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Penrith NSW
    Posts
    5,873
    If you add something like Nitrivec to the tank as per instructions the tank should cycle without using fish
    bacteria need food to survive (as does any living organisum), also for it to survive the bacteria which convert nh3 to no2 need oxygen, how does a bacterial culture in a sealed bottle stay alive unless it has a food and oxygen source?

    sorry for being skepitcal i just dont get how bacterial biostarters can work?

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