Difference b/w Free & Total Ammonia tests

[badfish]

I recently started to cycle my tank, and was going to start testing for ammonia. I purchsed the Seachem multitest kit, and the ammonia test has free ammonia test and total ammonia test. which one should i run?

Thanks,

- Jeff

 

[Thumper]

Not a clue but I bet someone here knows,

 

[badfish]

in the interpretation it says, "During cycling (i.e.initial aquarium set up stage), it may exceed 20 mg/L. Ammonia exists in two forms, free ammonia (NH3) and ionized ammonia (NH4+), in an equilibrium dependent on pH. Of the two, free ammonia is the most toxic and increases proportionately to increasing pH."

 

[steve-s]

Only worry about free ammonia. Ionized ammonia (NH4) is harmless at SW pH levels and not a concern.

Cheers
Steve