A comment about ammonia and cycling

[SlugSnorter]

I apologize - your reply to my post didn't make sense to me - so - I though that you perhaps mis-spoke. I said exactly what you did in the OP. If there is a x amount of NH4 - there will be a mathematically calculable amount of NH3 based on pH, etc.

My specific question (as others have been discussing) - is whether NH4 itself is toxic.

my opinion: It is toxic but far less so than NH3, but for it to reach troublesome levels there is most likely major issues with the tank to allow it to build to that level.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

my opinion: It is toxic but far less so than NH3, but for it to reach troublesome levels there is most likely major issues with the tank to allow it to build to that level.

It's more of a scientific curiosity than anything of utility to a reef aquarist. There's no scenario in a reef tank where it matters to everyday concern over ammonia toxicity.

 

[Lasse]

There's no scenario in a reef tank where it matters to everyday concern over ammonia toxicity.

You mean everyday concern over ammonium toxicity?

I normally try to use NH3 and NH4 because I think it a total mess to mix ammonia gas and ammonia ion into one word - ammonia as it often does in the aquarium hobby.

Sincerely Lasse

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

You mean everyday concern over ammonium toxicity?

I normally try to use NH3 and NH4 because I think it a total mess between mixing ammonia gas and ammonia ion into one word - ammonia as it often does in the aquarium hobby.

Sincerely Lasse

I just mean whether NH4+ is toxic at some level, or not toxic at any level, reefers are unlikely to do anything different because of it since there is always a tox concern from the NH3 alone.

 

[Lasse]

I just mean whether NH4+ is toxic at some level, or not toxic at any level, reefers are unlikely to do anything different because of it since there is always a tox concern from the NH3 alone.

OK - that´s how I read it. Thanks

Sincerely Lasse