Ammonia Alert

The Seachem Ammonia Alert is an innovative colour device for continuously detecting and monitoring toxic ammonia. A sensor changes reversibly from yellow to green to blue, relative to the ammonia concentration. No test kits, chemicals, or procedures are needed. The device detects less than 0.05 mg/L (ppm) free ammonia and alerts you to the number 1 killer before any sign of stress. The Ammonia Alerts lasts for over a year and is suitable for both fresh and saltwater aquariums.

In the absence of ammonia the unit will assume a yellow or faint yellow-green colour. It is normal for the dry sensor to have a greenish hue. It may take up to a few days for a dry sensor to equilibrate with the water. No sampling of water, chemicals, or test procedures are required. The presence of the free ammonia is detectable continuously with a response time of about 15 minutes. Response to decreasing ammonia is slower, requiring about 4 hours to go from toxic to safe on removal of ammonia.

As little as 0.02 mg/L of free ammonia will produce a greenish hue on the detector surface. This corresponds to a total ammonia (both ionized and free ammonia) of 0.25 mg/L in marine water at ph 8.3. In freshwater at ph 7.0, this corresponds to 3.6 mg/L total ammonia. Free ammonia is much more toxic than ionized ammonia. As free ammonia, the alert colour corresponds to about 0.05 mg/L, alarm to about 0.2 mg/L, and toxic to about 0.5 mg/L. The alert concentration is tolerated for several days, alarm for a few days, and toxic is rapidly harmful. For emergency ammonia removal, treat with Seachem AmGuard. This product is not recommended for use at acid ph.