[APD] Re: Ammo Lock and Ammonia Tests

[Wright Huntley <whuntley at verizon_net>]

Phil,

That ingredient statement doesn't fit with my concept of how "Ammo Lock 
2" actually works. Sounds like you are *adding* a stiff dose of 
nitrogen, with that stuff! [Amine is a marketing disguise word for 
organic ammonium compounds. :-)]

Since we are way out of my range of chemical expertise, let's hope Greg 
will chime in and straighten us all out.

A quick web search disclosed nothing about the older "Ammo Lock" 
product. It appears to no longer be sold.

> Message: 4
> Date: Sun, 26 Oct 2003 07:58:40 -0800
> From: Phil Bunch <pbunch at cox_net>
> Subject: RE: [APD] Re: Ammo Lock and Ammonia Tests
> To: "'aquatic plants digest'" <aquatic-plants at actwin_com>
>
> Wright:
>
> My bottle of Ammo Lock does not include the 2 designation. Given the 
> information provided on the bottle it appears to work the same way as Ammo 
> Lock 2. The only indication of ingredients is "Contains: No less than 17% 
> Aliphatic Amine Salts".
>
> Phil Bunch

Joanne,

> On Sunday, October 26, 2003 07:40, Joanne Damon [SMTP:Joanne000 at webtv_net] wrote:
>
> > > Wright said
> > >
> > > Try the same test using a salycilate ammonium test and see if
> > > ammonia/ammonium isn't below detectable levels.
> > >
> > >     Do you know of hand what brand use salycilate?

snip...

Beside the AP one that Phil mentioned, I have only used the Kordon 
salycilate test for ammonia/ammonium.

Don't bother buying any, for the sensitivity just is not there. The 
Spotte reference that Scott quoted says that 0.1 ppm of total NH4+ is 
the maximum that should be tolerated (p. 103). That is less than half 
the first color step on the LFS test products, either Nesler or salycilate.

On P. 106, he points out that irreversible damage to fingerling gills 
could happen at concentrations of ammonia as low as 1 ppb (0.001 ppm)!

My experience is that most stunted fish growth is due to subtle, 
sub-lethal doses of ammonia, particularly in low oxygen situations. Good 
plant growth, plenty of oxygen, good bio-filtration and frequent 
modest-size water changes should keep ammonium/ammonia way below any 
detectable levels. Since a proper salycilate test is very tedious and 
time consuming, I just quit testing altogether, and use "Amquel" when 
carbon filtering wasn't the answer. [I mean whole-house cartridge 
filtration, not the useless chips sold at the LFS.]

Wright

--
Wright Huntley -- 760 872-3995 -- Rt. 001 Box K36, Bishop CA 93514

           Mencken's maxim—every election is a sort
             of advanced auction of stolen goods.



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