How to measure marine ammonia in saltwater aquariums with Hanna Checkers

Being able to measure the levels of ammonia within your marine aquarium accurately is important for the health of your tank and the fish you keep. The HI-784 Marine Ammonia Checker is designed specifically to measure ammonia within saltwater and coral tanks, with clear and accurate on-screen results. Read on to learn how to measure marine ammonia with a Checker:

Steps for measuring saltwater ammonia with a Hanna Checker

The HI-784 Checker is easy and practical to use for both daily and weekly aquarium water quality measurements. This electronic tester displays clear digital results from testing, providing the information needed to maintain your tank's condition. 

Here’s how to use a Checker to measure ammonia using the included reagents:

1. Add 1ml of reagent A into the clean, dry vial and add one packet of reagent B before using a pipette to fill the vial up with your water sample to the 10mL mark
2. Gently shake your sample to dissolve the reagent and allow it to stand for 30 seconds before placing it in the Checker and pressing the button
3. Remove the vial, add one packet of reagent C and shake gently for 30 seconds to dissolve before re-inserting the vial into the Checker
4. Press and hold the button to start the timer and wait for your results in ammonia/ammonium ppm NH₃.

This Checker includes a simple conversion table in the manual to calculate unionised ammonia (NH₃) concentration, helping you determine the toxic NH₃ portion.

Why measure ammonia in marine aquariums?

Ammonia is a natural byproduct of life in fish tanks, produced by the excretion of waste. The faeces, urine and gills of fish all lead to a build-up of ammonia over time. Decomposition of both plants and fish food can also cause ammonia to increase faster in marine aquariums.

Accurately measuring this parameter can help to prevent problems in your saltwater tank. Excess ammonia causes stress in fish and weakens their immune systems, making them more susceptible to illness. Over time, ammonia poisoning may occur, which can be fatal if not recognised and resolved swiftly.

Marine tanks are often complex and expensive, making it vital to keep track of water quality parameters such as ammonia. Having a strong understanding of your water chemistry allows you to swiftly react to changes, preventing problems before they can cause harm.

Why use an electronic tester for saltwater fish tanks?

A Checker is an electronic tester and provides a simple and reliable digital measurement of a specific parameter on an in-built LCD screen. When comparing testing strips vs digital testers for aquariums, one of the key problems with using strips is the ambiguity of results, requiring personal perception to determine water quality against a colour chart.

Checkers remove the need for guesswork when testing aquarium water. You have peace of mind that the results are determined for you, allowing you to make informed choices to accurately dose and manage your water while reducing the risk of over or underdosing your tank. 

Buy Hanna Checkers today

You can buy Hanna’s electronic testers range for saltwater and freshwater aquariums online today, with free next-day delivery. Our Checkers cover a wide range of vital fish tank measurement parameters, from marine alkalinity to nitrate and phosphorous. 

Buy Checkers online now.