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Re: Cycling a new tank
>Ammonia is called ammonium in water with a PH less than 7.
NH3 is ammonia, while NH4+ is ammonium. The amount of NH3 relative to
NH4+ is dependent upon pH. The following table lists the percent of NH3
at 20 C and varying pH:
pH %NH3
7.0 0.40
7.2 0.63
7.4 0.99
7.6 1.56
7.8 2.45
8.0 3.83
8.2 5.94
8.4 9.09
There is very little ammonia at pH < 7, and it doesn't become prevalent
until pH > 8.2. Besides, it's the ammonia concentration, not the
relative proportions, that's important. A new tank with 1 ppm NH3-NH4+
at pH 8.0 is less of a problem for fish than a tank with 8 ppm NH3-NH4+
at pH 7.2. Simply keeping a low pH is no guarantee for avoiding new
tank syndrome.
>In this state it is food for plants and tanks that have plants
>make this cycling stage safe for fish. The stem and other
>fast growing plants are more efficient in
>extracting ammonium directly from the water column and
>are the ideal starting plants for this reason.
Ammonia is actually more readily taken up than ammonium, as an uncharged
ion can cross a membrane more easily than a charged one. This is
precisely why ammonia is more toxic than ammonium--membranes are much
more permeable to ammonia. High ammonia is toxic to plants, too.
>If there are
>not enough of these fast growers then the end product in the
>water is nitrate which is food for
>algae as the higher plants absorb nitrate through their
>roots better than from the water directly.
Er, I've been adding nitrate to maintain 3-5 ppm in my tank for three
years now, as have many people on the APD. I don't have an algae
problem!
Regards,
Mark