My tap water has unacceptable levels of ammonia ( 3mg/l) sometimes higher. I was woundering if an RO unit removes ammonia. I have been told both Yes an No from different people at the LFS.
Does Ro filter remove ammonia
- Thread starter mikebarg
- Start date
Is your water disinfected with chloramines? This is the likely source of the positive and harmful ammonia readings. If so, you should be using a neutralizer such as Amquel or Prime to break the chlorine-ammonia bond, neutralize the chlorine and complex the ammonia.
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Ammonia and ammonium are different from each other. I'm not going to go into a detailed explanation but the difference is caused by ph somewhere around 6.5 I do know r/o's do not remove ammonia. So like RTR said it's time to use Prime or Amquel. I use Prime with my r/o water because I have chloramines. If you read the bottle it says to use at half strength with low levels. So I use 1 ml per 20 to 25 gallons. You have low levels do to the fact your r/o prefilters have removed the chlorine.
Ionized ammonia(NH3) is ammonium(NH4+) and it happens at a Ph of 7.0 and lower.
RO units remove all hardness from the water, it also removes almost all dissolved gases, driving the Ph below 7.0. The ammonia turns to ammonium and 85%-95% of it is removed.
RO prefilters are likely either carbon or a mechanical strainer. Neither removes any ammonia from the water.
RO units remove all hardness from the water, it also removes almost all dissolved gases, driving the Ph below 7.0. The ammonia turns to ammonium and 85%-95% of it is removed.
RO prefilters are likely either carbon or a mechanical strainer. Neither removes any ammonia from the water.
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