Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Lowering the ammonia value in the aquarium
• Part 2 of 3: Identify the source of a high ammonia level
• Part 3 of 3: Taking accurate ammonia measurements
• Tips

Ammonia is highly toxic to fish and other aquatic animals. The only safe ammonia value is 0 ppm. Even a concentration of as little as 2 ppm can kill the fish in your tank. By measuring the quality of the water in the aquarium you can reduce the ammonia value to a safe value for your fish.

To step

Part 1 of 3: Lowering the ammonia value in the aquarium

1. Partially change the water. Partial water changes are the good and efficient way to reduce the ammonia levels and keep the aquarium clean for your fish. Aim for a weekly partial water change, but you may need to do it more often depending on the conditions of the tank. A good way to check if you need to change the water more often is to disturb the substrate with a fishing net. If a lot of dirt is coming up, you need to change the water more often.
   • Leave fresh water overnight to dechlorinate, or treat the fresh water with a dechlorinating agent.
   • Wash your hands and make sure you have rinsed off any soap, lotion, and other possible contaminants. Dry your hands with a clean paper towel.
   • Disconnect any electrical devices near the aquarium to avoid the risk of accidental electrocution. Wait to reconnect the devices until you are done changing the water and make sure everything is dry.
   • In a healthy aquarium you can always change about 30% of the water. In an aquarium of approx. 35 liters, you change approx. 10 liters of water.
   • You don't have to remove the fish for a partial water change. Just be careful when putting your hands in the tank so you don't startle your fish.
   • Scrape away any algae that grow on the wall of the aquarium, you can also use an old credit card for this.
   • Use a siphon hose to siphon 30% of the old water from the tank and into a sink or bucket. When you have removed enough of the old water, carefully pour the fresh and dechlorinated water into the tank.
2. Scoop out organic matter that does not belong in the aquarium. Decomposing organic material is a major cause of high ammonia levels. Using a fishing net to remove organic matter (that's all but the live fish and plants you want in the tank) can help keep ammonia levels low.
   • Food that has not been eaten is a major contributor to elevated ammonia levels.
   • Fish feces can also increase its value as it decomposes.
   • Dead plant material or dead fish in the aquarium will release large concentrations of ammonia.
   • Try to clean the filter in the aquarium, as it can bring built-up organic matter back into the water. However, do not replace the filter pads, as this can disturb the bacterial balance of the water.
3. Reduce the frequency and amount of the food you give. If your fish leave a lot of food, it could be the reason for an increased ammonia level. By reducing the amount of food in the tank, you reduce the chance that the ammonia level will rise.
   • Make sure your fish get enough food. Talk to a vet or fish expert about how much food your fish need to stay healthy.
   • Be aware that changing your fish's eating habits will not change ammonia levels that are already high; however, it will prevent a future increase in value after you change the water.
4. Introduce healthy bacteria to the water. The bacterial colonies that usually reside at the bottom of a healthy aquarium help convert ammonia into harmless nitrogen components. If you have a new tank or if the bacterial colony has been greatly reduced, you may be bothered by something that some experts call it new aqaurium syndrome to mention.
   • Some people introduce bacteria by putting 1 or 2 inexpensive fish in the tank so that the fish's feces can allow the bacteria to develop. If you are going to do this, you can use goldfish for cold water, barb for warm water, and damselflies for salt water.
   • You can also introduce healthy bacteria by placing a handful of gravel from an older tank in between the gravel in the new tank.
5. Lower the aquarium's pH levels. Ammonia is either unionized as NH3 or ionized as ammonium (NH4 +). Unionized ammonia (NH3) is the form that is toxic to fish and is often abundant when the water pH is basic (high on the pH scale).
   • Add chemical pH adjusters (from the pet store), this is the easiest way to lower the pH in the aquarium.
   • Lowering the pH won't remove the ammonia, but it can make it less dangerous if you need some time before you can change the water.
   • An easy way to maintain a low pH is to make sure you use real gravel as a substrate in the aquarium. Using crushed coral or coral sand releases calcium into the water, which can raise the pH level.
6. Try to aerate the water. NH3, the poisonous form of ammonia, is a dissolved gas that mixes in the water. By increasing the amount of oxygen in the water, you can filter the ammonia gas out of the water and bring it to the surface.
   • Aeration won't help much in a large pond, but for checking ammonia levels in an aquarium it can help.
   • You can purchase an air pump at most pet stores and online.
   • Make sure you don't cover the tank if you normally have a lid on it. As the ammonia spreads, it should have the ability to get out of the tank.
7. Use neutralizing drops. One way to temporarily remedy high ammonia levels in the aquarium is to use neutralizing drops. You can buy them at most pet stores or order them online.
   • Neutralizing droplets do not remove ammonia from the water. They only neutralize the toxic effect of the ammonia, rendering it harmless.
   • You still need a biological filter system (by bacteria) to convert the ammonia into nitrite and nitrate.

Part 2 of 3: Identify the source of a high ammonia level

1. Check the tap water. It is quite rare for tap water to have a high ammonia value. Most municipal water systems test the concentration of chemicals, such as ammonia, to make sure the water is safe to drink. However, it is worth checking if you are doing everything right and the ammonia levels remain high.
   • Use an ammonia test kit that you would also use for the aquarium for the tap water.
   • If the ammonia value in the tap water is high, you must report this to an employee of the municipal water district.
2. Watch for decomposition in the aquarium. Decomposing material in the aquarium is one of the biggest causes of a high ammonia value. Evaluating the content of the water will give you a clearer idea of ​​what to do to fix the problem.
   • Any decomposing material, including aquatic plants and microorganisms, can increase the ammonia value as the protein breaks down.
   • Food waste can also increase the ammonia value as it decomposes in the water.
   • Remove any material that does not belong in the aquarium from the water as soon as possible. Make sure you have a regular schedule for changing or partial water changes.
3. Recognize ammonia from your fish feces. If you see a lot of feces floating around from your fish, it could be the source of the increased ammonia levels. Your fish's feces will slowly decompose, as will the decomposing organic matter, increasing the ammonia levels in the water.
   • You can control feces by scooping them out of the water during regular or partial water changes.

Part 3 of 3: Taking accurate ammonia measurements

1. Buy a standard test kit. Most pet stores sell ammonia testing kits. These kits check the total ammonia values ​​(so, both ammonia and ammonium). The problem with this is that the test does not differentiate between the values ​​of both forms, which means that you cannot accurately determine how toxic the water is.
   • In general, if your tank is not new (if it has already been inhabited and contains active bacteria colonies), you should not be able to detect ammonia with a standard kit.
   • If the test shows a measurable amount of ammonia and you know a healthy bacteria colony is already present and there is a lack of organic matter, the problem is likely with your filter.
2. Measure the pH of the water. The pH value of the water can have a direct influence on the ammonia value in the water. By measuring the pH level regularly, you can help ensure that the ammonia level is non-toxic.
   • The pH value of a water body influences how much ammonia is ionized and how much remains unionized.
   • You will still have to treat the water in addition to adjusting the pH. Since the acidification of the water does not actually break down the already present ammonia.
3. Test the water at the right time. Depending on when you test the water, you can read an artificially high value. The best time to test the water is immediately before feeding, as the new food has not yet broken down in the water.
   • Ammonia levels peak about 90 minutes after your fish have been fed.
   • Testing the water after your fish have eaten (thus producing excrement) can give an incorrect reading.

Tips

• Make sure you don't have too many fish in your tank.
• Don't overfeed your fish and make sure your tank has a good filtration system.
• Make sure to run a new tank before putting any fish in it.