I'm Not Worried.. :D

[Marx]

I think the ammonia im using is not good...  I went with What Stevie recommended and bought the goldex brand from Canadian Tire..  is clear no foam when shock.. but there is No ingredents label on it..

and the plants look great tho.. snails are still kicking around, but i'm very unsure if i added toxins to the tank.. i would hate to start all over.. and it would cost me big $$$$ to change all the filter media and driftwood in the tank because of this...

Help please...

[DARKPHREAK]

Have you tried contacting the company who makes it? Im not sure why you would have added ammonia to a planted tank in the first place. From what I understand one uses ammonia for an unplanted tank. The plants would have taken care of what little cycle that would have happened, least mine did.

[Marc]

You don't say why you think there may be something wrong with the ammonia.   I just read your "wierd cycle" thread and everything looks normal there.  Seems like a normal cycle to me, not a weird cycle.

[Marx]

well for a quick nitrite and nitrate jump isn't that wierd? also what if the tank is contaminated.. and the wood absorbs it and the fish all die...

[Marc]

Well you did add some plants in which would of had some bacteria on it which would speed up the cycle.  Also .5 - 1 ppm nitrite isn't that much of  a spike.  Your ammonia is disappearing, nitrite is appearing, nitrate is appearing.  Your plants are sucking up some of your ammonia and some of your nitrate.  All is normal.

Just keep on topping off the ammonia daily until you 24 hours after adding ammonia you have both zero ammonia and zero nitrite.  

As for contaminated ammonia.  RELAX.  Your plants and your snails are still alive.  There's nothing to worry about, sheesh.  Also if there was something toxic in the ammonia it would be killing the bacteria too.
*passes a few valiums over to Marx*

Once your tank is cycled keep adding ammonia until the day before you add the fish.  Do a large water change (particularly if you have high nitrate) then add just a few fish and give them a week.  It they're still alive then all is well.  Resume adding a fish, a few at a time.

[Marx]

if there still alove lol.. thats not what i want to hear..

I'd hate to gable with the lives of fishies..

hmm tobad they don't have a toxic test kit..

[Marc]

Sorry.  I can't help you more than that.  I think you're panicking over nothing.  *shrug*

Good luck.

[dpatte]

phone the manufacturer and ask the purity of the ammonia and if there are any other likely chemicals in it

[Marx]

no contact info or nothing.. its goldex.. can't even find it on the internet lol..

[BigDaddy]

Marx... don't take this the wrong way, but your creating a tempest in a tea cup.

As was mentioned before... the plants and the snails are fine.  The only things you'd add to ammonia would be perfumes which you would smell, coloring that you would see, or surfacants that would cause the liquid to froth (which you confirmed it doesn't).

Your cycle is going normally.

Fishkeeping is supposed to be a relaxing thing buddy... stop stressing out!  If your so worried about adding livestock, then go buy something cheap and hardy like zebra danios and let them have a go in it for a couple of weeks first.

[Stevie]

I already answered a PM from Marx,but just in case someone else is wondering about my recommendation, I have used Goldex ammonia successfully!  I cycled a 150 gallon tank in just under two weeks.  It's a stronger concentration than the Old Dutch brand, but worked beautifully!

[Marx]

hehe is all good.. just a moment of weakness cause of adding ammonia..

today my readings of

ammonia were 1.2ppm.. so i topped it up to 3ppm..
temp 78
nitrite .3ppm
nitrate between 5 and 10ppm.. around 7ppm..

[Stevie]

glad to hear it is working out!

[luvfishies]

Sounds and looks likd you're right on track!

Stop Worrying!