Editing Ammonia
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− | '''Ammonia''', in the aquarium hobby, refers to two chemical compounds, free ammonia ( | + | '''Ammonia''', in the aquarium hobby, refers to two chemical compounds, free ammonia (NH3) and ammonium (NH4+) together. Ammonia is a food source for [[nitrifying bacteria]] and is toxic to fish, amphibians and invertebrates. It is a key input to the [[The Nitrogen Cycle]] and an important parameter to measure when [[cycling]] a new tank. |
==What is it?== | ==What is it?== | ||
− | Free ammonia is a chemical compound of nitrogen and hydrogen with the formula NH3. Technically ammonia in water is called [[w:Ammonium hydroxide|Ammonium hydroxide]]. In the aquarium hobby the term ammonia also refers to an ionized form called ammonium ( | + | Free ammonia is a chemical compound of nitrogen and hydrogen with the formula NH3. Technically ammonia in water is called [[w:Ammonium hydroxide|Ammonium hydroxide]]. In the aquarium hobby the term ammonia also refers to an ionized form called ammonium (NH4+). These are held in equilibrium in the water [Citation needed]. '[[Total ammonia]]' (TA) or 'Total ammonia nitrogen' ([[TAN]]) refers to the total concentration of both NH3 and NH4+ in the aquarium water. |
Where you have Ammonia, you will also have Ammonium. The ratio of one to the other varies on pH and water temperature. So it is important to know these two readings when measuring Ammonia in your tank to gauge how serious the Ammonia levels are. See the Links section for a Toxic Ammonia calculator. Here is a table showing the varying levels of ammonia against ammonium. | Where you have Ammonia, you will also have Ammonium. The ratio of one to the other varies on pH and water temperature. So it is important to know these two readings when measuring Ammonia in your tank to gauge how serious the Ammonia levels are. See the Links section for a Toxic Ammonia calculator. Here is a table showing the varying levels of ammonia against ammonium. |