Hanna Instruments has added a saltwater-specific ammonia tester to its popular checker lineup. Joining the existing freshwater High, Low, and Medium range ammonia checkers this latest device for saltwater is low range, measuring ammonia levels from 0.00 to 2.50 ppm (mg/L). Reefers rarely test for ammonia but mobile inverts and marine fish may have maximum tolerances of as low as 0.03-0.08 ppm, and as pH increases, so does toxicity. The new checker has a resolution of 0.01 ppm and accuracy of ± 0.05 ppm ±5% of reading at 25°C (77°F).
Although ammonia should not be prevalent in established reefs, it’s certainly a thing again in brand new aquaria that aren’t set up with mature live rock, and we see ammonia rear its ugly head all too often in AIO nano tanks scaped with dry materials and then dosed with instant stocking/instant maturation potions which don’t live up to their own hype. Combine with the Nitrite and Nitrate Marine Pocket Checkers, eliminate the need to guess shades of green on a color chart, and get tank cycling results you can rely on.
Pricing ranges from around $60.00 in the US but is much higher in Europe.
