Total ammonia is the sum of all ammonia nitrogen present in the form of monochloramine (NH 2Cl), other chloramines, ammonium ion (NH 4 +), and molecular ammonia (NH 3). This parameter may serve as a primary or secondary verification to maintain the chloramination process under control. Further fields of applications are the analysis of foods & beverages and of environmental and agricultural samples (e.g. soil). The Hydroxybenzyl Alcohol Method offers sensitivity similar to the Nesslerisation Method but with the added benefit of being Mercury-free, thus not generating any Mercury-containing waste.

Ammonia is formed naturally as a product of the microbiological decay of nitrogenous organic matter (animal and plant protein). It can also be produced for use in fertilizers, or for use in the production of plastics, pharmaceuticals and other chemicals. The AquaCare Ammonia Test Kit is exclusive to Maidenhead Aquatics. This Ammonia indicator test is a must-have for freshwater fishkeepers and includes 40 tests that should be carried out weekly or any time you are concerned about the health of your fish. Ammonia is excreted by the fish as a waste product. It is extremely toxic to the fish and is broken down into less toxic nitrite by the beneficial bacteria in the filter of your aquarium. Ammonia is most toxic to fish when the pH is alkaline and the temperature is high, so it is most dangerous in cichlid or marine aquaria. Any ammonia present in the aquarium water will cause major health problems for the fish. Toxic ammonia can build up in aquaria where there are not sufficient beneficial filter bacteria to deal with the total waste from all the fish in the aquarium. This situation can commonly arise in new aquaria, when new fish are added, when the filter bacteria have been disrupted (e.g during cleaning), or during accidental mis-dosing of aquarium medications. Ensuring good water chemistry in your aquarium is essential to fish health and wellbeing, and having a reliable and accurate test kit makes a difference. For a master test kit, we recommend the API Freshwater Master Test Kit for freshwater tanks and the Salifert Master Reef Testing Combo Kit for saltwater tanks. Both kits contain multiple tests to measure everything from pH to nitrate to nitrite and more to keep your water clean and healthy for your aquatic environment. What to Look For in Aquarium Test Kits What Is TestedThere are many different chemical components of the aquarium water that potentially can be tested, but for most people, a water test kit that covers the basics is sufficient. At a minimum, your kit should test for: In some disinfection processes, ammonia is intentionally combined with chlorine to produce monochloramine. Though free chorine is a more powerful disinfectant, monochloramine (bonded ammonia and chlorine) has a stronger residual so it remains in the distribution system longer, thus ensuring disinfection is maintained all the way to the tap. Furthermore, chloramines react less intensely with various impurities in raw water, particularly organic substances, thus minimizing the formation of some carcinogenic disinfection by-products (DBP). To optimize the chloramination process, it is important to monitor the formation of the target disinfectant species, while preventing the formation of less desirable dichloramine or trichloramine (nitrogen trichloride). Monochloramine testing is used together with a free ammonia determination to ensure formation of the right disinfectant and reduce raw material costs by preventing the overfeeding of chlorine and/or ammonia. Ammonia is also monitored in aquariums and fish farming applications because of its toxicity to fish.

Higher ammonia concentrations in surface waters can indicate contamination from waste treatment facilities, raw sewage, industrial effluents (particularly oil refineries), or fertiliser runoff. Regulatory requirements mandate ammonia monitoring for diverse industries to protect downstream aquatic environments, such as wastewater, landfill, acid mine drainage and animal feeding operations, where ammonia is measured in effluent, leachate, and unintended discharges. Environmental scientists often test water bodies for ammonia to help them assess trends associated with other aquatic health indicators. The aquaculture industry frequently measures and controls ammonia concentration to keep fish and shellfish alive and healthy. The Specified Concentration or Value (SCV) for ammonia in drinking water supplies in the UK is 0.50 mg/l (ppm), and in Ireland is 0.3 mg/l (ppm). What is Ammonia? The salicylate method is a variation of the well-known phenate method, but it has an advantage of being free from mercury salts and phenol. This method is most useful for low range ammonia nitrogen determinations. Although the procedure involves multiple steps before a final green color is developed, all reagents are contained in convenient powder pillows (salicylate reagent powder pillows and alkaline cyanurate powder pillows) or a combination of powder pillows and TNT vials. K-1503 and K-1523 Vacu-vials: 2 month limit on supply is recommended, however refrigeration can extend shelf-life. Analytics and Sample Preparation > Test Kits and Photometric Methods > Areas of Application > Waste Water > AmmoniumThis Spectroquant® Ammonium Reagent Test allows the cyanide-free quantification of ammonium in wastewater, groundwater, surface water, and seawater. Typically, ammonium enters water sources as runoff from fertilized agricultural areas and enhanced levels are important indicators for fecal pollution. Ammonia is an inorganic form of nitrogen that contains hydrogen. It is a plant nutrient often found naturally in water at low levels due to the decomposition of organic matter. When ammonia levels range too high, it usually signals contamination stemming from raw sewage, industrial effluents (particularly petroleum refineries), or fertilizer runoff. Total ammonia is the sum of both NH 3 (ammonia, the un-ionized form) and NH 4 + (ammonium, the ionized form). Total ammonia is what is measured analytically in water. Ammonia toxicity is influenced by pH and temperature. As pH or temperature increases, NH 4 + is converted to NH 3, and the toxicity also increases. Mouse: brain, liver tissue and serum 3; plasma 4; pancreas, kidney, liver, brain, and muscle tissue 5; faeces 6 The AquaCare Ammonia test has been specifically designed for the potential use of first-time fishkeepers meaning that the tests are easy to carry out and understand. Take a 5 ml sample of aquarium water into the test tube. Add 5 drops of the reagent Ammonia 1 and 5 drops of Ammonia 2 and 5 drops of Ammonia 3. Replace the test tube cap and mix. Wait 10 minutes, and then compare the colour of the sample to the colour scale provided. Zero ammonia is represented by a yellow colour. Any hint of green in the sample indicates the presence of ammonia. Krom, Michael D., Spectrophotometric Determination of Ammonia: A Study of a Modified Berthelot Reduction Using Salicylate and Dichloroisocyanurate, The Analyst, v.105, pp. 305-316, 1980.