Homebase Ammonia Didn't Work For My Fishless Cycle

[s75658]

I have been cycling my new aquarium now for 4 weeks using Homebase ammonia. In the 4th week after taking daily readings the Ammonia level was still reading 4ppm and hadn't dropped. I did a 100% water change in the 2nd week and bought some bactinettes but that didn't help. So I began to suspect that something in the water was stopping the bacteria from establishing. After a bit of research on the internet I found out that if the ammonia foamed after being shaking then it is no good. I not sure if Homebase has changed the ingredients of there solution but it certainly foamed after being shaken.

A trip into town and I got some Robert Dyas household ammonia which does not foam. Now after only 2 days of starting the cycle again with more bactinettes my reading are:

Ammonia - 2ppm (down from 4ppm)
Nitrite - 5ppm
Nitrate - 10ppm

Boy am I happy

 

[Miss Wiggle]

glad it's progressing now, interesting to see that homebase may have changed the ingredients, can you type out for us what the ingredients on the bottle say now?

 

[s75658]

The label says:
Homebase Household Ammonia
CONTAINS: Ammonia Solution 9.5% E.C No 215-647-6

No hint on the label that it contains any soap or perfumes

 

[rabbut]

What does it smell like? Don't put your nose over the bottle to sniff, as it will literaly burn you nostrils, but open the bottle and leave it open for a few seconds and then sniff

I haven't used Homebase's ammonia so can't coment on it realy

Glad your cycle is off to a good start now

All the best
Rabbut

 

[s75658]

Smells just like ammonia.

Here is a picture of the homebase solution after being shaken:


And here is the Robert Dyas solution after being shaken:

 

[waterdrop]

Perfect picture set for beginners: Top picture - NO, bottom picture - OK

 

[redevilman]

I am using homebase ammonia which i shake the bottle before i use but it has never bubbled before and my next door neighbour has just started his fishless cycle today and he also is using bubbleless homebase ammonia.not sure why yours is bubbling

 

[backtotropical]

Very interesting. I've never heard of Homebase ammonia not working.

Can you post up a picture of the bottle? It certainly looks from your previous pics as if there is some kind of additive in there.

BTT

 

[willsy]

I have exactly the same problem. I've been cycling my tank for more than 1 week with no change in ammonia readings. I'm using the Hombase ammonia, and mine indeed does bubble when I shake it.

Looks like I'll be making a trip down to Robert Dyas tonight!

Can I ask if you rinsed out your gravel after doing a 100% water change. Or did you just syphon as much of the water out as possible?

Cheers

Will.

 

[minxfishy]

Maybe homebase have changed their brand.? I use homebase ammonia, its a white bottle with blue wording, must admit Ive never shaken it, but it works fine on my cycles.

 

[shelaghfishface]

hmmm this is all very interesting, i have never done a fishless cycle so far, but no doubt i will have to one day and this ia great

 

[waterdrop]

I agree shela, very interesting... as we all try to help ourselves and newcomers, we should remember that obtaining the right ammonia for fishless cycling is an easy point for confusion to occur and to continue because no one suspects that is the source of the problems. There will always be a danger in recommending a particular brand or bottle, as changes could made by the manufacturer, as mentioned. We should always encourage the extra step of checking it, perhaps even pulling out a bit into one of our glass test tubes and giving it a careful shake, eye and smell test, before beginning to use it for fishless.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[s75658]

Can I ask if you rinsed out your gravel after doing a 100% water change. Or did you just syphon as much of the water out as possible?

Will,
I syphoned as much water out of the tank as I could. I also got a clean washing up cloth and used that to soak up most of the remaining water. Some water was still left in the tank where the gravel is but this hasn't affected my cycle.

I hope I have alerted any other people just starting there cycle to stop them making the same mistake as I did.

Ian.

Here is a picture of the offending homebase ammonia bottle:

 

[minxfishy]

Thats the exact same bottle of ammonia that I have used for 3 fishless cycles and using for my current cycle. Maybe you got a bad bottle.

 

[willsy]

Thats the exact same bottle of ammonia that I have used for 3 fishless cycles and using for my current cycle. Maybe you got a bad bottle.

I've got the same Homebase bottle too, and mine bubbles in the same way. My cycling still hasn't changed from 4ppm ammonia after 8 days, so I think something is wrong.

I've checked in Robert Dyas, and they only stock Jeyes Kleen Off, and when I shake the bottle, it seems to foam too.

Maybe they have changed the main production batch with a sufactant now. I know that most of these manafacturers get the same product and put their own label on it.

Possibly everyone else on this forum has been using the pure ammonia that was availble before these changes were made.

I've found this ammonia on ebay, but not sure if it will be suitable:

http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=300234019602

Thanks for the info Ian. I'm a bit concerned that I will leave some of the chemicals in the tank if I just syphon out. Not really made my mind up if I should rinse everything including the gravel, but that will be a nightmare!!

Oh god, I thought this was gonna be easy!!!

Cheers

Will.