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Articles/FAQ
Facts About Ammonia:
Where does ammonia come from:
Pond fish contiuously release ammonia into the water from their gills, urine and solid waste. Uneaten fish food and decaying algae also release ammonia. Ammonia is toxic to all fish. Left untreated, ammonia damages delicate gill membranes and prevents the fish from carrying on normal respiration. High levels of ammonia quickly lead to the death of your fish. Even trace amounts of ammonia can stress fish, suppressing the immune system. This casues a gradual decline of fish health and leads to outbreaks of disease in the pond.
How the Presence of Ammonia can be Detected in the Pond:
Fish stress and labored respiration are just two indications that poisonous ammonia may be present in your pond water. Since ammonia is colorless and ordorless, pond water should be tested weekly. If ammonia is present, steps must be take to remove it.
What Happens to the Ammonia:
Dangerous ammonia (NH3) is converted to harmless nitrate (NO3) through a process called the "Nitrogen Cycle" An active biological filter, comprised primarily of nitrifying bacteris, consumes ammonia. Some species of nitirifying bacteria conveert ammonia to nitrite, which is also toxic to fish. Other nitirifying bacterial species convert nitrite to harmless nitrate. Together, these bacateria create a healthy, mature biologicl filter, which keeps the pond free of harmful ammonia and nitrite. Newly established ponds, however, may have ammonia build up before these filters develop (usually 2-3 weeks). That is why testing for ammonia especially at this time is of the utmost importance. Even in established ponds ammonia levels can become toxic from accidental overfeeding or from an unnoticed death of a fish, or even when there is a rapid die off of algae.
A Healthy Pond should have no detectable ammonia, as ammonia is toxic to ALL pond life.
To reduce ammonia levels use: Clear As Crystal, a natural way to combat ammonia.
If at any time you detect ammonia...take steps to reduce the ammonia, such as clean the pond filter and bottom of excess debris and reduce fish feeding. Make sure there is adequate oxygnation and surface agitation are provided.
If the ammonia level exceeds 0.5 ppm make a 25% water change every two days until the ammonia level drops to zero, or use Ammonia Eliminator.
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