Just thought I'd add a brief explanation (using a little science) about how these "Ammonia Lockers" work.
When in water - Ammonia has two forms:
1. "Free Ammonia" - (NH3) - This is the dangerous stuff because its one Hydrogen bond is free to bond to hydrogen on the gills and organs of fish.
2. Ammonium - (NH4+) - This is the harmless stuff. A 4th Hydrogen has been stuck onto the free bond, so the Ammonium doesn't bond to anything.
Now - that 4th Hydrogen comes off and goes on very easily without a lot of energy.
*** If your PH is above 7, the hydrogens come off more than they go on - making more free ammonia.
*** If your PH is below 7, the hydrogens go on more than they come off - making more ammonium.
--- Adding an "Ammonia Locker" to the water adds a special compound to the water (usually a Hydrogen Salt), that adds a lot of Hydrogen Ions to the water - which latch onto the ammonia's free bond like kids on candy.
The problem is - water can't sustain a ton more Hydrogen ions, so eventually the extra Hydrogen from that chemical you poured in, evaporates, and any ammonia that was locked up will be freed again.
So - Unless you get the tank cycled properly, you'd have to either do constant water changes (good) or continuously add "ammonia locker" (very bad, because it could cause your PH to crash and kill your fish)
When in water - Ammonia has two forms:
1. "Free Ammonia" - (NH3) - This is the dangerous stuff because its one Hydrogen bond is free to bond to hydrogen on the gills and organs of fish.
2. Ammonium - (NH4+) - This is the harmless stuff. A 4th Hydrogen has been stuck onto the free bond, so the Ammonium doesn't bond to anything.
Now - that 4th Hydrogen comes off and goes on very easily without a lot of energy.
*** If your PH is above 7, the hydrogens come off more than they go on - making more free ammonia.
*** If your PH is below 7, the hydrogens go on more than they come off - making more ammonium.
--- Adding an "Ammonia Locker" to the water adds a special compound to the water (usually a Hydrogen Salt), that adds a lot of Hydrogen Ions to the water - which latch onto the ammonia's free bond like kids on candy.
The problem is - water can't sustain a ton more Hydrogen ions, so eventually the extra Hydrogen from that chemical you poured in, evaporates, and any ammonia that was locked up will be freed again.
So - Unless you get the tank cycled properly, you'd have to either do constant water changes (good) or continuously add "ammonia locker" (very bad, because it could cause your PH to crash and kill your fish)