Where to source NH4?

[Artisan]

I have an experiment where I would like to dose ammonium / NH4. I’ve looked everywhere, but it seems to always be paired with something like carbonate or nitrates etc. I’m not a chemist and I’m sturggling to understand how those additives would effect my experiment. I’d like to use ammonium /NH4 because my understanding is that ammonium/NH4 it’s less toxic to fish than ammonia/nh3 at my current ph. However, I’ve also read that it’s very easy for NH4 to convert to NH3. Should I just forget this silly idea and try dosing over the counter ammonia / nh3 or is it possible to buy or create ammonium/NH4?

 

[Dr. Reef Verified Sponsor]

NH4 is not harmful at all but has ability to change to NH3 which is toxic. no idea on simply buying NH4.

 

[daelie]

I have an experiment where I would like to dose ammonium / NH4. I’ve looked everywhere, but it seems to always be paired with something like carbonate or nitrates etc. I’m not a chemist and I’m sturggling to understand how those additives would effect my experiment. I’d like to use ammonium /NH4 because my understanding is that ammonium/NH4 it’s less toxic to fish than ammonia/nh3 at my current ph. However, I’ve also read that it’s very easy for NH4 to convert to NH3. Should I just forget this silly idea and try dosing over the counter ammonia / nh3 or is it possible to buy or create ammonium/NH4?

Ammonium is a cation so it’s going to be commonly found in salts like ammonium chloride.

I’m not sure what your experiment is exactly, or what your pH is, but do you really have a pH that low where ammonium ion would be drastically favoured over ammonia, as to have next to none?