Does ammonium kill bacteria

[Saintsaber]

Hey i have ammonium of 4-5 ppm ive been dosing prime daily.


My question is will to much of NH4 (safe ammonia (ammonium)) kill of good bacteria?

 

[CHOMPERS]

The toxicity of ammonia is pH dependent. I'm assuming that there aren't fish in there, but if there are, a water change can kill them.

Before you do anything, what is the pH and are there fish in the aquarium?

 

[CHOMPERS]

Btw, also test your tap water.

 

[Scorponok]

NH4 is food for BB so too much is never enough.

 

[Spiritofthesoul]

Bacteria eat both ammonia and ammonium

 

[Jgray152]

I thought i read once that to much ammonia can kill bacteria or atleast keep them from producing

 

[Saintsaber]

Ya it's fishless method ph 6.8 ammonium4-5 ppm my question is can ammonium not ammonia kill bacteria

 

[Juxtaroberto]

Only in the thousands of ppm. Your current ppm is absolutely fine. If you're doing a fishless cycle, don't use Prime. Don't use anything. Just let it run its course.

 

[Juxtaroberto]

Ammonium and ammonia are basically the same, chemically.

 

[Spiritofthesoul]

Ammonium and ammonia are basically the same, chemically.

As a chemistry student, I have to disagree. LOL!!
NH4 has a postive charge while NH3 is neutral.
It is an ion not a molecule.

Anyways NH4 is less toxic to fish compared to NH3