Pokeshrimp Posted December 8, 2015 Report Share Posted December 8, 2015 So i bought ammonia with surfactants in it and have been cycling with it. I just read the ingredients and noticed that it contains surfactants despite being labeled "pure". Anyways my understanding is that surfactants is just detergent i should be able to a complete water change and be ok. Has anyone made this mistake and been keeping shrimp just fine? This is going to be my TB tank so i just wanted to be 100% sure they're not going to die because of this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greenteam Posted December 8, 2015 Report Share Posted December 8, 2015 The simple man's way to test IF the ammonia you buy is safe: shake the bottle if foam/bubbles form then it contain soap or other additives making it unsafe to use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pokeshrimp Posted December 8, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 8, 2015 Yea it bubbled up. I think i put about 3ml so far in the tank. A 100% water change should make the tank ok for shrimp right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
35ppt Posted December 8, 2015 Report Share Posted December 8, 2015 That really does not sound good to me. I would use something to remove residual surfactants from everything in the tank. sarah 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vpier Posted December 9, 2015 Report Share Posted December 9, 2015 You have a serious problem. You will have to rinse everything including substrate out thoroughly and I would still be worried. Fish may handle a minute amount of soap but not shrimp. This is the only product I use if doing a fishless cycle. http://www.hanaquatics.com/dr-tims-aquatics-ammonium-chloride/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pokeshrimp Posted December 9, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 9, 2015 You have a serious problem. You will have to rinse everything including substrate out thoroughly and I would still be worried. Fish may handle a minute amount of soap but not shrimp. This is the only product I use if doing a fishless cycle. http://www.hanaquatics.com/dr-tims-aquatics-ammonium-chloride/ Yea this was what i was worried about. I guess since i am planning the tank for TBs i should start from scratch since TBs are sensitive already. Good thing i didn't add the substrate yet and my DIY hmf was only $6. Might even get a new tank since they're only $15 and use this one for neo culls. Thanks for the link. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vpier Posted December 9, 2015 Report Share Posted December 9, 2015 Yea this was what i was worried about. I guess since i am planning the tank for TBs i should start from scratch since TBs are sensitive already. Good thing i didn't add the substrate yet and my DIY hmf was only $6. Might even get a new tank since they're only $15 and use this one for neo culls. Thanks for the link. Was the tank for shrimpscales ROAK when you win it ????? :thumbsu: If didnt add substrate then most of your problems have been solved. I was worried about the substrat. Just give the tank a really good multiple warm water rinsing. If you had wood or porous rocks in there , I wouldn't use them and I wouldn't take the chance on TB's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gillznglass Posted December 9, 2015 Report Share Posted December 9, 2015 Ace brand janitorial strength ammonia is great for fish less cycling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pokeshrimp Posted December 9, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 9, 2015 Yea I've read that ACE brand is everyone's go to, but I'll be checking the dollar store since people say they find it there as well. If i was lucky enough to win shrimpscales ROAK I'd just move my RCS out of my 20L and give them that tank ha. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
35ppt Posted December 9, 2015 Report Share Posted December 9, 2015 Good thing you caught this, and extra bonus that there was no substrate. My guess is a good wipe/soak with vinegar and lots of water will clean the tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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