Tropic Marin NH4+/NH3-Test

Tropic Marin's NH4+/NH3 Test can be used to determine the ammonium and ammonia levels in freshwater and saltwater aquariums. The test kits contains all the necessary cuvettes, reagents, syringes and colour cards for precise measurement and is sufficient for approx. 50 applications. After the reagents have been used up, they can be purchased as a refill pack.

What are ammonium and ammonia?

Ammonium is formed in the nitrogen cycle when bacteria break down uneaten food and fish excrement in aquarium water. The pH value in the water ensures that ammonium ions (NH4+) and ammonia (NH3) are in balance. If the pH value is below 7, the water mainly contains harmless ammonium ions. If the pH value is above 7, ammonia tends to be higher which is dangerous and toxic for aquarium inhabitants.

The optimal total ammonium/ammonia concentration in freshwater aquariums is 0.1 mg/L. The total concentration should not be more than 0.5 mg/L! In saltwater aquariums, the safe limit for the total concentration is much lower and should always be below 0.05 mg/L.

Instructions for use:

Determining the total ammonium/ammonia concentration:

1. Shake the dropper bottle before use.
2. Rinse the glass cuvette first with tap water and then with aquarium water.
3. Fill the cuvette with 5 ml aquarium water with dosing syringe.
4. Add 10 drops of Reagent A to the cuvette containing the sample water, close the cuvette with a stopper and shake the solution.
5. Add 5 drops of Reagent B to the sample, close the cuvette with a stopper, shake the cuvette and set it aside.
6. Add 5 drops of Reagent C to the water sample, shake the cuvette and set it aside.
7. Let the cuvette rest for 6 minutes. Then place them on the white inner circles of the colour chart and compare them with the colour field by looking into the cuvette from above. Move the sample on the colour chart until the colour of the cuvette and the colour field match.
8. Now read the measured value from the corresponding colour field. If the colours do not match exactly, determine an intermediate value.
9. Rinse the glass cuvette and measuring spoon with tap water.

Determining the ammonia content:

The ammonia concentration can be read from the table in the supplied instructions for use once the total ammonium/ammonia concentration has been determined and the pH and water temperature are known.

Included:

• 1 x 20ml Reagent A
• 1 x 10ml Reagent B
• 1 x 10ml Reagent C
• 1 x 10ml glass cuvette
• 1 x 5ml dosing syringe
• 2 x colour cards
• 1 x instruction manual

Our expert Oliver Knott recommends:

An ammonia concentration of 0.075 mg/L is already harmful for the inhabitants of an aquarium!