Instant cycling

[larrysaltisfun]

I’m using Brightwell microbacter QUIKcycl.
Initial reading 20 minutes after adding ammonium chloride with SALIFERT test is zero ammonia. Instructions say do not add more to achieve proper start amount and don’t exceed 3PPM. Can someone give me some guidance as to what to do. the bottle of ammonium chloride doesn’t expire for four years. I used 14 ml for a total capacity of 70 gallons following instructions of using one ML per 5 gallons. Thanks!

 

[larrysaltisfun]

Next, I added a whole ML of the ammonium chloride to my sample with salifert reagent
And got no color change at all. Conclusion, I have a bad bottle of Brightwells or a bad ammonia test kit.

Should the ammonium chloride be strong enough to actually smell like ammonia?

 

[larrysaltisfun]

Good ole API. Comes through

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Glad that is worked out. :)

 

[goldsy77]

Salifert won't read ammonium chloride. It only tests for free ammonia. Ammonium chloride will absolutely get your cycle kick started, it just won't show up on a Salifert test. Looks like you got a reading on the API test though :)

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Salifert won't read ammonium chloride. It only tests for free ammonia. Ammonium chloride will absolutely get your cycle kick started, it just won't show up on a Salifert test. Looks like you got a reading on the API test though :)

That is incorrect.

Salifert will detect and reports total ammonia in seawater.

In addition, ammonium chloride instantly equilibrates between ammonia and ammonium based entirely on the pH, exactly as any other source of ammonia or ammonium will. It makes no difference which form you add, there will always be a mix of both.