PH and ammonia effect..

[tanker]

Bacteria does not break down ammonia as well when PH is low (6.3 or lower). So if the PH is at 5.5 is there no BIO activity?? So your tank stocking must also be lower and require more water changes??

At higher PH the bacteria is more efficient but ammonia will be more toxic...so


Am I thinking too much???

 

[SubRosa]

Correct on all counts! Except the thinking too much part!

 

[MTiffany]

Bacteria does not break down ammonia as well when PH is low (6.3 or lower).

What's your source for that assertion?

 

[Rbishop]

simple chemistry....

 

[Zaffy]

What's your source for that assertion?

It's well documented in many scientific papers.

 

[MTiffany]

It's well documented in many scientific papers.

And that's what I'm asking. Which papers? Because, as a "for instance," according to the DOE's Joint Genome Institute, the optimum pH range of ammonia metabolism for Nitrosomonas europaea is between 6.0 and 9.0. And here's the link to prove it: http://genome.jgi-psf.org/niteu/niteu.home.html

 

[SubRosa]

www.geyserpump2.com/nitrification.htm This site is related to wastewater treatment, but pretty much everything we know about aquarium water quality is info that has trickled down(haha) from the wastewater treatment industry.

 

[jpappy789]

I've always heard under 6.0 is when you should really worry.

 

[Lupin]

Here's a table for ammonia toxicity influenced by pH and temperature. Should be an interesting study for some.
http://dataguru.org/misc/aquarium/AmmoniaTox.html