Ammonia readings

[Byron]

Not sure I understand what you just said. Isn't the Ammo Lock a conditioner that dextoxifies ammonia? Your statement makes it sounds like that is what I should do but at first you say it isn't wise.

You may be correct. I had thought this was some sort of chemical filtration used to lock ammonia in the tank, which is not good (for plants or bacteria). But on researching now, it seems to be more of a conditioner. However, I wonder what happens to the locked ammonia?

 

[Ram419]

You may be correct. I had thought this was some sort of chemical filtration used to lock ammonia in the tank, which is not good (for plants or bacteria). But on researching now, it seems to be more of a conditioner. However, I wonder what happens to the locked ammonia?

Not sure, on API's website it says "API® AMMO LOCK ammonia detoxifier is proven to convert poisonous ammonia into a non-toxic form. "

 

[Byron]

Not sure, on API's website it says "API® AMMO LOCK ammonia detoxifier is proven to convert poisonous ammonia into a non-toxic form. "

But that doesn't tell us where the "converted" ammonia goes, and that is the issue. Most conditioners detoxify ammonia by changing it to the less toxic ammonium. Plants grab this, and nitrifying bacteria as well. And plant uptake of ammonia at such low levels is well within 24 hours, and given that most conditioners claim they are effective for 36 hours, this is not a problem. The initial influx of ammonia is rendered safe, and within 24-36 hours all taken up by plants and/or bacteria.

But the API does not say anything about time. If it works as above, that is fine. But if this ammonia is handled differently, it can be reducing the nutrients available to plants. Which is why I said that without plants, I suppose it doesn't matter. Though I would still like to know what a product is actually doing inside my fish tank. Back to the bottom line, the fewer chemical substances added to a fish tank the healthier the fish.

 

[Essjay]

Ammo lock contains sodium thiosulfate and "aliphatic amine salts, proprietary"

Sodium thiosulfate is in many water conditioners as the chlorine-removing agent. The aliphatic amine salts is the one which detoxifies ammonia. I've seen that in other products, though I can't remember which ones. Is suspect the effect is temporary as in other ammonia detoxifiers - few products say what's in them.