Quote:
Originally Posted by ddckec6972
total ammonia vs free toxic ammonia? please explain, the test kits don't tell you which one your measuring
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When ammonia (NH3) is protonated it beccomes ammonium (NH4+) and is not or is much less toxic. The amount of ammonium ion formed is determined by pH. In the 7 to 8 range, a lot of the NH3 is in the protonated form.
Test kits measure total ammonia, that is NH3 and NH4+.