It exists in two forms in the aquarium and the first step is to understand the difference between ammonium NH4 and free ammonia NH3. NH3 (ammonia) is a gas and sometimes called toxic or free ammonia. This type of ammonia is the dangerous part. NH4 (ammonium) is a nontoxic salt. It is the ionised form of ammonia.

NH4 (ammonium) is a nontoxic salt, it is the ionised form of toxic ammonia NH3. It is useful to understand that in the aquatic environment NH4 is not toxic, however it does have the ability to instantly change to NH3 with a change in pH and or tempertaure.

NH3 is reported in the unit of ppm but this is interchangeable with mg/L as it is a gas dissolved in water. Want to reduce your ammonia because you have a high level or problem? If so then please click here. The seneye device and seneye connect application allows you to look at free ammonia between 0.001ppm and 0.500ppm. The seneye.me website stores all the ammonia history …

In true terms NH4 is a nontoxic substance in the aquarium, however due to the equilibrium which occurs between NH3 / NH4 at a given pH and temperature it is better to measure NH4 as an indicator of NH3 than nothing at all. Interpretation of NH4 to estimate NH3 is most often done by a chart supplied with the test kit or by a calculation online.

The movement in pH means that all of the ammonium (NH4) in the sample will be liberated to the NH3 form. The NH3 then reacts with the chemistry in the test to create the colour change that is measurable by the photometer or eye.

If your ammonia test kit registers in shades of amber, it's Nessler. They generally are quicker to use, but ammonia-locking products (e.g., AmQuel) will cause Nessler kits to give false positive readings. Nessler test kits measure ammonia NH3 and ammonium NH4.

calibrating your pH probe for the aquarium is very important and it all starts with good quality PH calibration and solution

NH4 – ammonium, although not toxic itself a change in temperature or pH can release it into NH3. There are many more exotic chemicals that can be measured in the aquatic environment but most of these will help organisms thrive the list above is designed to help them first survive.

First-time fish keeper or experienced hobbyist looking for some advice? You have come to the right place. In this section of Seneye answers, you'll find all you need to know about looking after your aquarium as well as monitoring it with a Seneye USB device. The Seneye USB device monitors life-critical parameters such as pH, water level, temperature and free ammonia. …

When we measure the pH,we are measuring hydroxyl ion in solution, as pH increases so do the hydroxyl ions which attach them selves to the hydrogen ions leaving ammonia in its toxic state,NH3, as pH decreases then so do the hydroxyl ions, leaving hydrogen ions to attach to the ammonia molecules detoxifying and ionising ,making safe as NH4.