NH4 and NH3 confusion - cycling

[echo438]

Hi

I Have a seneye monitoring my tank and its showing, for ammonia,

NH3 = 0.001, but NH4 is 21.61, what does this mean

Also, my PH is going down how do i raise it. I have skimmer and filter on the tank.

thanks Elaine

 

[nmbeg]

hmmm I have never heard of seneye before, but based on their website, they only tell about ammonia, which is NH3. NH4 is ammonium, which is not typically monitored for a reef tank-- think. This question is probably best posted in the chemistry forum.

It seems that your ammonia is at zero. How long has this tank been running? What is in the tank?

You also need to check nitrite (NO2) and nitrate (NO3). Have you tested those values?

 

[disc1]

Ammonia always comes in both forms. The ammonium isn't as toxic, but if you are cycling in then you are still waiting for that to go to zero too.

21.64 is a tremendous number if that is in units of ppm. Can you tell what the units are on that measurement? Numbers without units are useless.

Don't worry about the pH, it usually goes low while cycling in. Wait until the tank is cycled and then look at it.

 

[echo438]

Hi

Tank has been cycling since 17th Nov.

12.8kg dead live rock
6.4 kg new live rock

figure is ppm,

not tested NO2 and NO3 yet, as the ammonia was still showing high on NH4. No signs of any coraline growth yet though.

 

[jerrodm]

20+ is extremely high for ammonia, personally, I would do a water change to bring it down so there isn't such a high amount while cycling, did you add ammonia hydroxide to the tank for a fishless cycle? How did you start your cycle?

 

[echo438]

the ammonia is 0.001, ammonium is 15ppm.

Didn't add anything, just new live rock and sand

 

[mmostafa29]

Senye

Senye

The reading of NH4 is in PPB and not in PPM, that is why 15~20 is considered as acceptable. Also, the reading is not real because it dose not depend on a real sensor. It depends on some mathematical equations which are not very accurate sometimes.

Seneye is a great device but it needs a lot of development to include several sensors to give a full idea about the current water condition and its progress, till that happens you have to do those tests manually.

 

[g_langley]

The reading of NH4 is in PPB and not in PPM, that is why 15~20 is considered as acceptable. Also, the reading is not real because it dose not depend on a real sensor. It depends on some mathematical equations which are not very accurate sometimes.

Seneye is a great device but it needs a lot of development to include several sensors to give a full idea about the current water condition and its progress, till that happens you have to do those tests manually.

Spot on. My tank is fully cycled and 7 months old and my Seneye always reports NH4 in the 10-20ppb range.

 

[codyvlc]

Spot on. My tank is fully cycled and 7 months old and my Seneye always reports NH4 in the 10-20ppb range.

My tank has been set up a week with live sand and wet cured rock, which still has a bunch of old sponges etc. falling off. A brown algae bloom is occurring. I just bought the Seneye so I'm not really sure what to expect. Thoughts?

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