A Few Stupid Noob Questions

[Ron Jeremy]

Sorry guys, I'm a noob and although I searched, and read the new user reference bit, I'm still stumped.

I've read up on the nitrogen cycle and I understand it

My lfs gave me some filter start solution and I've added that while I wait for my api kit to come.

Now, when I start to cycle and measure properly, I have to dose up my ammonia.

What does ppm mean? And how much ammonia is x ppm for a 165l tank.

Sorry for daft questions, but I need to learn now so my fish don't end up dead.

 

[Fishy friend2]

Parts per millimeter is what it means, and 4 ppm should be perfect

 

[Ron Jeremy]

Thank you. So 4ppm then, is that 4 parts ammonia to one part of water?

How do you know how much ammonia makes that much? Is there a conversion sum to do to work out ml ammonia dosage to achieve that concentration?

 

[fluttermoth]

Parts per millimeter is what it means, and 4 ppm should be perfect

It means 'parts per million', dude

It's almost the same, and can be treated as identical for our purposes, as miligrams per litre.

OP, if you look at the top of the page, you should see a tab that says 'calculator' (it might not show up on all forum skins though). If you click that, you'll find a 'thing' (technical term ) where you input the volume of your tank and it'll tell you how much you need to add

 

[Ron Jeremy]

Ah cheers. I'm on iPhone so it's basic. I work it out as 0.66ml. Let's see when I use the calculator.

 

[fluttermoth]

Calculator says 6.94 ml for 4ppm, assuming your ammonia is a 9.5% concentration, which most are.

 

[Ron Jeremy]

Nope 6.95. Thanks guys. That calculator is very useful

 

[Ron Jeremy]

Also, it says %ammonia in solution. I take that to be the strength of the ammonia I'm using then? So I'd drop 6.95 ml straight into my tank? Not make up an actual solution?

Edit, I need to read above. Thanks guys

 

[willowstwin]

It's all very confusing, and no question is stupid if you don't know the answer (unless it's "I keep buying snails but they keep disappearing, I dont know why, there's only my puffer fish in there" >.<)

Add the initial amount of ammonia and keep testing until the ammonia has been processed. Keep dosing up to 5ppm until your filter can clear it with 0 ammonia and 0 nitrItes in 12 hours.

 

[Ron Jeremy]

Simples. Thanks

 

[Ron Jeremy]

Right. I have obtained some ammonia. It's extremely strong, white powder from a local aquatics place. They let me have a bag for nothing.

I plan on a trial and error style test in a bucket, say a litre with some scales to weigh it. Eg, 1gramme per litre makes x ppm therefore times that by 165.

Anyone guess the amount I'd neef to begin with??

 

[the_lock_man]

Right. I have obtained some ammonia. It's extremely strong, white powder from a local aquatics place. They let me have a bag for nothing.

I plan on a trial and error style test in a bucket, say a litre with some scales to weigh it. Eg, 1gramme per litre makes x ppm therefore times that by 165.

Anyone guess the amount I'd neef to begin with??

Ammonia is a gas at room temperature, so check out what this powder actually is before you put it anywhere near your tank.

 

[Ron Jeremy]

It's in powder form, the aquatics place use it to cycle large ponds and large tanks in their shop. I'd guess it's industrial strength stuff that dissolves in water. I'm assured it's safe. I'll start with 10l and 1gramme and see how I go.

 

[Aqua Tom]

It's in powder form, the aquatics place use it to cycle large ponds and large tanks in their shop. I'd guess it's industrial strength stuff that dissolves in water. I'm assured it's safe. I'll start with 10l and 1gramme and see how I go.

 

[Ron Jeremy]

I have no idea what it is then. It's white powder, the bloke that gave it to me said its highly concentrated and did a test with it. A grain in a test tube turned the water yellow.