Fish Tank Ammonia

Most people who have kept a fish tank have heard of Ammonia. Often it isn’t until you start running into trouble that the real research starts in an effort to track down reason why fish keep getting sick and dying.

Quite simply, Ammonia in your fish tank is bad for your fish. But why does it occur, how does it occur and what can we do to remove and prevent the build up of fish tank ammonia? Understanding the chemical cycles in your aquarium is your single biggest asset for minimizing fish death.

Symptoms of Ammonia in your aquarium

• Fish remain at water surface
• Fish have brightly discolored gills
• Fish are lethargic and will not eat
• Fish deaths

Where does Ammonia come from?

Uneaten food and fish waste breaks down into ammonia, dependent on your PH, small amounts of ammonia in your aquarium can be poisonous. If your PH is less than 7.0 then small amounts of ammonia will be less harmful.

And then where does it go?

The good bacteria in your filter oxidizes ammonia in your water and if there is sufficient good bacteria in relation to ammonia then your water will effectively remain ammonia free. This oxidization process releases a by-product called Nitrite which is also toxic to your fish.

Great, so how do we remove Nitrite?

Again the good bacteria in your filter gets to work and converts the nitrites into nitrates. Fortunatly Nitrates are not highly toxic to your fish in low levels. The Nitrates remain in your water and are removed when you perform your partial water changes either weekly or bi-weekly.


What can I do?

Get a test kit from your local fish store and test your water regularly. Ammonia and Nitrate are the most critical tests. And your test kit will provide a guide that will help identify any problems. If you find ammonia is present carry out a 50% water change then a 20% change the next day and monitor the situation. Make sure your filter is adequately sized for your aquarium and that you are not overfeeding or overstocking.

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