What is "Ammonia"?

[George&Ade]

Hi.Have been reading some of the posts here involving "fishless cycling"
I understand that you can use ammonia (pure with no perfumes or additives).
Could someone please tell me if this is actually bleach?

 

[Captain Canuck]

No, they are NOT the same. Bleach is sodium hypochlorite and it will kill bacteria, hence its use in swimming pools and drinking water.
Ammonia is NH3 and commonly found in animal/human waste, it is toxic to fish. It is the first form of nitrogen released when organic matter decays. It can be used by most aquatic plants and is therefore an important nutrient. It converts rapidly to nitrate (NO3 ) if oxygen is present. Ammonia is toxic to fish at relatively low concentrations in pH-neutral or alkaline water. And it is also used as a household cleaning product.
You can usually find ammonia for sale with the household cleaning products at the grocery store.

 

[George&Ade]

Thank you for your reply
Think i may have a problem finding "pure ammonia" here in england,but at least i now know not to use bleach

 

[heresmike]

I've heard others in the UK say they found ammonia at the chemist?

 

[tstenback]

I remember one chap from your neck of the woods said that he found some at the chemist (guess thats like a pharmacist/druggist).If you cant find it you can cycle with some hardy fish like danios or platies and keep close track of your levels using a test kit for ammonia, niTRATES and niTRITES. There are pinned articles on this form to help you. You will be cycled when the ammonia and niTRITE readings are 0 and niTRATES are positive. HTH