I'm Not Wrong... Am I?

[Kairi]

I've been on a quest for a few days now to find pure ammonia. No where that I've looked seems to carry it. Tomorrow I continue my quest; however, I went to the local pet store, which shall remain nameless, today to just see if they had any. I thought, "Hey, they sell fish, maybe they know about fishless cycling and have the right kind of stuff!" wrong. I couldn't have been more wrong, actually. The girl proceeded to tell me that I was sorely mistaken, made me feel like a moron, and pointed out some bacteria in a bottle. I tried to tell her they couldn't be alive anymore- what survives in a bottle?! After feeling about as dumb as the gravel in my tank, I walked off while she was talking.... never to go back.

I'm not wrong with the fishless cycle, am I? I mean, I've read up quite a bit on how to do this, and what I need- and feel like I'm really ready (once I find the ammonia) to do this.... and although I know she's mistaken, and was way out of line how she spoke to me today... I'm doubting myself. Fishless cycles *are* the best thing, aren't they? I'm not doing this wrong, am I? I just want the best for my fish.

 

[penguinpimp1990]

youre absolutly right, lfs employees will try to indimidate new customers to sell useless and expensive "instant cycling" products to make a quick buck. The best way is like you said, fishless cycling. To tell you the truth, dont listen to much that LFS's say. This doesnt apply to all LFS's but the large majority will tell customers anything to make some money, regardless of a fish's life or your wallet. Its a buisness, their first priority is money, a fish's life and your time is second.

 

[Kairi]

I guess I know that fishless cycling is the way to go. I'm just looking for reassurance. Apart from making me mad enough to write a letter to the manager about her behaviour.... It really shook me up.

 

[mandy82]

Are you located in the US? If so, Wal-Mart sells ammonia.

 

[Kairi]

yup, i'm in the US.... the walmart by my house has ammonia, but it has surfactants in it- which isnt the kind to use. at least, that's what i've read- and heard.

 

[tttnjfttt]

The ONLY bottled stuff that works in the US is Bio-spira, which nees to be constantly refrigerated until you add it, and also has an expiration date. I've heard of people putting lots of fish food in their tank, which will decay and cause a build up of ammonia as well.

Unfortunately, the store I got my ammonia from isn't in the midwest (which is where i am assuming you are from, just looking at your local time)

 

[mandy82]

Is this what it says on the ingredients list? water, ammonium hydroxide, chelating agent. That's what it says on the ammonia I bought from wm, and it's fine to use.

 

[tttnjfttt]

http/housewares.hardwarestore.com/35-176...nia-283705.aspx

http/jon-doninc.com/catalog/product_info...roducts_id=3497



Here is another idea. Your profile says you are a student, do you have any friends who are science majors? They would have pure ammonia in their labs, and might be able to smuggle some out for you to use.

 

[Kairi]

science majors, hu? i'll look around i know there's got to be a store around here that has *something*! ...

 

[chishnfips]

Over here I found it very hard to get hold of.

In the end I just put in fish food now and then for about 3 days I think. It starts to rot down and causes amonia, that I needed, and my tank cycled. Worked a treat.

 

[seb_negrete]

i made the mistake of trying to buy ammonia at a fish store once...
worst part was that it was actually a specialty fish store and the guy was still trying to convince me that i must have been mistaken

 

[Kairi]

I'm tempted to inclose a letter on fishless cycling when I write to the store. You'd think they'd know about it.

 

[RoyalGrammaPrincessHannah]

I just like to add this about those instant cycles. Bio-Spira as mentioned earlier, is really the only one that works because the bacteria is in a dormant stage in a cold environment. They have also discovered that there are two kinds of bacteria for SW and FW, while all those products like cycle and stress zyme say they can be used for FW and SW. And there is no expiration date on those products. How could something survive in a temperature in between the dormant winter stage and the ideal temperature? They cant. How could they get oxygen or eat if the are supposedly alive? They cant. But with Bio-Spira the bacteria is "asleep" so it doesnt need air or food, but does need to be cold.

 

[penguinpimp1990]

i cant fathem how a living thing can be alive and "sleeping" but require no oxygen. By definition if something doesnt require oxygen, (besides plants) it is dead then.

 

[seb_negrete]

while i don't know much about the bacteria that are supposedly in products like Cycle, your "definition" of a living thing is completely wrong. there are many different species of anaerobic living things (including many strains of bacteria) that not only do not need oxygen, but die in the presence of oxygen.