Hypothetical 1ppm ammonia = 1ppm nitrate?

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markstrimaran

Potamotrygon
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Nov 21, 2015
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Does anybody have a idea, on ammonia ppm ratio to nitrates after completing the nitrogen cycle?
Thanks,
 
Using atomic mass, 1 ppm of ammonia will become 3.641 ppm of nitrates. That's assuming the ammonia is fully converted to nitrate.

This is because ammonia is NH3, nitrate is NO4, and the atomic masses are N (14.00643), H (1.00784), & O (15.999.) The mass of ammonia is 17.03 and of nitrate is 62.003.
 
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Ok so If I add 1ppm of ammonia each day to a tank, in one month I will have 30 ppm.

If it gets converted to nitrate, then it would be about 110ppm. In one month.?

Is my math correct?
Thanks
 
Using atomic mass, 1 ppm of ammonia will become 3.641 ppm of nitrates. That's assuming the ammonia is fully converted to nitrate.

This is because ammonia is NH3, nitrate is NO4, and the atomic masses are N (14.00643), H (1.00784), & O (15.999.) The mass of ammonia is 17.03 and of nitrate is 62.003.

This is correct.

As long as you remember 1 ppm = 1 mg/L you're pretty much set.

In an aquarium we can probably assume virtually 100% conversion since NH3 is probably the limiting reactant (everything else is in excess).

no3work.jpg
 
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