Is Ammonia Toxic to Corals?

[encrustingacro]

I heard from Jake Adams that ammonia is not toxic to corals. Is this true?

 

[Spare time]

It depends on the species as well as if it is ammonia vs ammonium, as well as temperature. I can send you the scholarly literature I know of regarding this topic if you are interested.

So in other words is incorrect, and correct. It is not that simple


The question is a bit difficult to answer given that you are asking about 6,000 different species

 

[Uncle99]

Yup, but at trace levels, likely consumed by some corals.
Ammonia can kill mostly everything at specific levels.
I assume this was his context, just trace amounts.

 

[brandon429]

here a thread where thirty pro reefs add ammonia for cycling, into their sps tanks:

Does anyone dose ammonia and/or how would one try?

I found a bottle of ammonium hydroxide from the supermarket but it doesn't tell the strength. From a little research I'm finding that most household solutions are 3%. (I'm hoping this is a safe guess!). I'd like to ask for someone to confirm my math: 3% = 30mg/ml. Tank vol = 150 L I...

www.reef2reef.com

*fully agreed above, that dose is simply within the shock absorber system limits all reefs have

outside that limits, toxicity bigtime, cells burn. what they show above is adding some isn't toxic, there was a time I thought that above could not be done. Blasterman told it to me first in about 2008 or thereabouts good call on trending man.

 

[brandon429]

also agreed context for the question matters, because I'm interested to know if someone's tester shows free ammonia for the fifteen thousandth time and whether or not that tester brand name starts w the first letter of the alphabet. if there isn't a free ammonia in a reef concern as the basis, ammonia is constantly produced and dealt with and our systems have room to instantly take on orders more but not toxic levels more.

*what is toxic also ranges, I was able to see a test done recently where a lucky astrea snail selected by me did not die when subject to half a bottle of dr tims into five gallons of saltwater for two days, no filtration. that bullet proof rascal ruined three of my nine good theories.

 

[KrisReef]

Another answer; I would not dip my corals in it to remove pests although it would work.

 

[brandon429]

cycle complete

 

[brandon429]

.

 

[Garf]

I heard from Jake Adams that ammonia is not toxic to corals. Is this true?

I think he was talking about putting in corals before fish, in which case there would be minimal ammonia present anyhow.

 

[Just John]

Since this thread has sort of died, I'll ask my related question. I just accidentally spilled some reef roids into the tank. So, that means I put in about a double dose. I don't have any fish, just softies. Should I not worry too much because if the bacterial filter can't take care of it all, the corals would likely be fine? I know this doesn't apply to every coral or huge amounts of ammonia, but I really just care about my situation.

 

[brandon429]

that wont crash your tank its a longer term algae issue.

it sure might make a color tube test kit for ammonia misread though, by boosting levels a little then the tester says alarm, alarm.

my guess is based on lack of links avail to show a reef crashing from overfeed, plus you're at home to intervene. the tell will be cloudy water.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Since this thread has sort of died, I'll ask my related question. I just accidentally spilled some reef roids into the tank. So, that means I put in about a double dose. I don't have any fish, just softies. Should I not worry too much because if the bacterial filter can't take care of it all, the corals would likely be fine? I know this doesn't apply to every coral or huge amounts of ammonia, but I really just care about my situation.

Correct, do not worry.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I heard from Jake Adams that ammonia is not toxic to corals. Is this true?

Just commenting on this earlier question, it is like many chemicals. Some is good, just enough is perfect, and too much is toxic. That applies to many major, minor, and trace elements, and organics.

 

[Just John]

Thanks guys!