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 | what are surfactants? |
GirlieGirl8519  Fish Master *Malawi Planter* Posts: 1468 Kudos: 1029 Votes: 35 Registered: 25-Mar-2005   | I can't find just pure ammonia anywhere. I have looked at wal-mart, and 3 dollar stores. I did get some but it lists surfactants in the ingredients along with ammonia hydroxide. What are surfactants? I can tell by reading some articles that its not good. Can I use this to cycle or should I keep looking for pure ammonia? I think I should check hardware stores. Any suggestions?  |
 Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:23 |     |
FRANK      Moderator Posts: 5108 Kudos: 5263 Votes: 1690 Registered: 28-Dec-2002   | Hi, The term "Surfactant" is a chemical term: Definition: a linear molecule with a hydrophilic (attracted to water) head and a hydrophobic (repelled by water) end. Surfactants tend to clump together when in solution - forming a surface between the fluid and air with the hydrophobic tails in the air and the hydrophilic heads in the fluid. Often surfactants will form "bubbles" within the fluid - a small sphere of heads surrounding a pocket of air containing the tails. They can also form bubbles in air - two nested spheres of surfactant, between them a thin la In your case it is added to assist the ammonia in mixing with the water and soaps for cleaning. They are additives and not what you want to put in your tank. Frank  -->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<-- |
| Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:23 |  |
angeleel Fish Addict Posts: 561 Kudos: 472 Votes: 61 Registered: 08-Feb-2005  | Try industrial cleaning shops, some places out here have it. Hopes this helps, I don't know, I don't think they will sell any pure ammonia at a dollar store, its in the hands of kids. Could just be around here. Angel Eel Last edited by angeleel at 30-Apr-2005 15:07 |
| Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:23 | |
| GirlieGirl8519 Fish Master *Malawi Planter* Posts: 1468 Kudos: 1029 Votes: 35 Registered: 25-Mar-2005 | I don't know of any industrial cleaning shops around here but I will look for one. I haven't looked at a hardware store yet either...that is next on my list. The reason I looked at dollar stores is because I read an article that said to look there...they have many off-brand cleaning things, like pure ammonia is..the kind I found wasn't pure though. Thanks for the help! I have about decided just to get some fish to cycle it. |
| Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:23 | |
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