Ammonium (NH4) vs Ammonia (NH3)

[Rupture Reefer]

Hey, so I'm just wondering if it is normal to have high ammonium (which I know is a nontoxic gas) and zero ammonia. What do these readings look like in an established aquarium? Should I even be testing Ammonium (NH4), or is it just a waste of time?

 

[Gareth elliott]

Generally ammonia vs ammonium is ph dependent.
for our purposes total ammonia test will give a more clear picture of what is going on while cycling a tank or monitoring a qt or fish delivery.

 

[Rupture Reefer]

Generally ammonia vs ammonium is ph dependent.
for our purposes total ammonia test will give a more clear picture of what is going on while cycling a tank or monitoring a qt or fish delivery.

Thanks for the reply. Ok, so it is normal to have noticable levels of Ammonium? As long as my pH is where it is now it's all good?

 

[Gareth elliott]

Thanks for the reply. Ok, so it is normal to have noticable levels of Ammonium? As long as my pH is where it is now it's all good?

On a cycled reef tank, its not normal to have detectectable reading of either. There is always a minute amount in the ppb as things decay. But are quickly used up by bacteria, photosynthetic creatures, etc. and will not show up on test kit. But on a newly setup tank or one that had a mini cycle it is common to have more ammonium than ammonia.