[BigJohnny]

Hello all, it's been about 9 years since I was last around on this forum, and back then I was trying to make an ammonium chloride solution for the purposes of starting the nitrogen cycle in an aquarium.
 
That old thread is located here
http://www.chemicalforums.com/index.php?topic=18242.15

I did end up making this solution, and it has been stored in a plastic bottle for the last 9 years. I remember when I made it there were some kind of white flakes floating around in it, but the problem is I can't find any of my notes from when I made it, regarding how much of the powder I added to what quantity of water.

best I could find in my old thread and another based on an aquarium forum, the solution I made would bring 50 gallons of water up to 5ppm ammonia with only 0.5ml of my solution (it might be 2.5ml, I have to re-read the threads)

I'll be starting a brand new 75 gallon tank soon and will need to kickstart the nitrogen cycle.

Is this ammonium chloride solution I made still safe to use 9 years later?

[Borek]

Is this ammonium chloride solution I made still safe to use 9 years later?

Technically there is not much that could change in the solution - ammonium chloride doesn't decompose. The only thing I can think of that could be a source of problems is the plastic bottle. Some plastics can decompose and decomposition products can be nasty.

[BigJohnny]

It was stored in a used but cleaned aquarium water conditioner bottle, so hopefully it shouldn't have leeched anything.

Is there anyway to test the strength of this stuff?

[Corribus]

Most additives to plastics are not very water soluble, but its still possible some of those migrated to your solution, regardless of how the polymer was stored. As for polymer decomposition, it depends to some degree on what polymer it is, but if the bottles were stored in the dark at reasonably low temperatures, polymer decomposition will be minimal. On the other hand if the bottle has been stored in direct sunlight or something, then all bets are off.

[Borek]

Is there anyway to test the strength of this stuff?

Many.

But it is probably much cheaper to prepare it anew.

[BigJohnny]

It actually was stored in a dark storage room, in a rubbermaid container. Not sure of the temperature but it's not generally too far above room temp.



I would prepare a new solution, but I have no idea where to buy ammonium chloride. I got it from ebay the last time and the guy who I got it from was apparently somewhat of a scammer who often didn't ship out packages or respond to people.... he then got banned for conducting illegal chemical sales without being properly registered or licensed to do so, not shipping stuff in proper containers and not including any of the proper labels or documentation.

[Corribus]

Searching "ammonium chloride powder" on Amazon turns up a number of purchasing options.