This idea is from this paper:
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF01049799?LI=true
While aquarist do not keep rice and do not add Triazine herbicides, I wonder how the effects of NH3 vs NH4 plays when the CO2 is poor.
Poor CO2 leads to many disasters in planted aquariums. But is it solely due to the CO2?
Perhaps, but the ratio of NH4 to NH3 is determined by pH and new tanks tend to have ample NH4/NH3 and that's also when it's most likely to get algae.
Seems poor CO2 will raise the pH and produce MORE NH3, less NH4.
At lower pH's, eg softer tank water, ample wood and tannins, peat etc, you do see some correlation with less algae and easier start ups.
When we add say a Jobe's stick to a planted tank in the water, we generally get some algae bloom.
When we add ADA AS additions, we rarely do.
One adds peat and binds the water hardness, both add plenty of NH4/NH3.
This is not a cut and dry scenario. Uprooting Jobe's sticks has caused many headaches and algae blooms for many, yet we see much less issue, when we use ADA AS.
I'm not sure if it's pH related, but it would explain why poor CO2 and NH3 can cause problems together.
If the CO2 is richer, then the pH will be lower. If the water is lower KH, then the pH will also be lower.
If peat is added, the pH will be lower and the KH will be lower.
In non CO2 systems, if the water is not changed, then the KH will be lower so will the pH.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF01049799?LI=true
While aquarist do not keep rice and do not add Triazine herbicides, I wonder how the effects of NH3 vs NH4 plays when the CO2 is poor.
Poor CO2 leads to many disasters in planted aquariums. But is it solely due to the CO2?
Perhaps, but the ratio of NH4 to NH3 is determined by pH and new tanks tend to have ample NH4/NH3 and that's also when it's most likely to get algae.
Seems poor CO2 will raise the pH and produce MORE NH3, less NH4.
At lower pH's, eg softer tank water, ample wood and tannins, peat etc, you do see some correlation with less algae and easier start ups.
When we add say a Jobe's stick to a planted tank in the water, we generally get some algae bloom.
When we add ADA AS additions, we rarely do.
One adds peat and binds the water hardness, both add plenty of NH4/NH3.
This is not a cut and dry scenario. Uprooting Jobe's sticks has caused many headaches and algae blooms for many, yet we see much less issue, when we use ADA AS.
I'm not sure if it's pH related, but it would explain why poor CO2 and NH3 can cause problems together.
If the CO2 is richer, then the pH will be lower. If the water is lower KH, then the pH will also be lower.
If peat is added, the pH will be lower and the KH will be lower.
In non CO2 systems, if the water is not changed, then the KH will be lower so will the pH.