Nh4-Which one Naturally Occurs

[wattson]

Which one of the combinations is closest to being found naturally in the ocean and our reef tanks that is generated from fish and other living animals ?
Nh4 Chloride
Nh4 Sulfate
Nh4 Hydroxide
and so on..
Or a better match per the best option.

 

[rkpetersen]

Here's one way to think of it. Ammonium is a positive ion. When dissolved in water, it isn't directly bound to any of the adjacent negative ions such as chloride, sulfate, etc. However if you were to remove all the water, ammonium chloride would be the most abundant ammonium precipitate, since chloride (from sodium chloride) is by far the most common negative ion in saltwater.

 

[wattson]

thanks for the reply,,but what is the form of ammonia that fish excrete through their gills and waste products ,,is it NH3 or NH4 mostly ?

 

[rkpetersen]

In freshwater fish, it's all NH3 that's excreted, although they also excrete H ions which then turn the NH3 into NH4 just outside the gill surface, so it can't re-enter.

In most saltwater fish, both NH3 and NH4 are excreted by several passive and active mechanisms.

And they excrete some NH3 and urea via their kidneys and urinary tract.