Post by Allaquatica on Sept 24, 2006 2:25:56 GMT -5
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AMMONIA
Ammonia (NH3) is mainly produced through decaying organic matter and fish waste, and is incredibly toxic to fish and other aquatic life. Ammonia levels of over 0.02mg/litre can be toxic to fish over longer periods, while higher levels (0.2mg/litre or more) can kill within hours. Ideally, ammonia levels should be kept at zero at all times. In the aquarium, ammonia can easily change into ammonium (NH4+), which is far less toxic. To distinguish between the two forms, toxic ammonia is described as 'free ammonia'. The pH level of the water affects this change; at low pH levels, ammonia is more likely to appear as less toxic ammonium. This means that ammonia levels are more toxic in water with a high pH level.
Temperature also affects ammonia toxicity; higher temperatures cause more free ammonia to be released into the water. Test kits usually measure total ammonia levels (both ammonium and free ammonia), so it is often hard to measure how toxic the level of ammonia is in a sample of water.
The ammonia molecule is made up from three hydrogen atoms and one nitrogen. Bacteria convert ammonia through oxidation, replacing the hydrogen atoms with oxygen, to produce NO2 and NO3.
Testing For Ammonia.
1) Ammonia should be tested for regularly, especially in new aquariums. Some test kits use tablets, which need to be crushed in a glass tube with the correct amount of water.
2) After a set period of time, the water in the tube can be compared with a colour chart to obtain an ammonia reading.
Causes of high ammonia levels.
Dead fish, breakdown of filtration, introducing too many fiah at once. Too much dead organic matter.
The effects of high ammonia levels on fish.
Gill damage, breathing difficulties, destruction of the mucus layer, internal and external bleeding, disease, erratic swimming and jumping (escape response), death.
How to reduce high ammonia levels.
If levels of ammonia become dangerously high, carry out a series of water changes (no more than 30% each day) and use proprietary ammonia remover. In seriuos cases, it may be worth changing all the aquarium water and replacing it with fresh, heated and dechlorinated water.
AMMONIA
Ammonia (NH3) is mainly produced through decaying organic matter and fish waste, and is incredibly toxic to fish and other aquatic life. Ammonia levels of over 0.02mg/litre can be toxic to fish over longer periods, while higher levels (0.2mg/litre or more) can kill within hours. Ideally, ammonia levels should be kept at zero at all times. In the aquarium, ammonia can easily change into ammonium (NH4+), which is far less toxic. To distinguish between the two forms, toxic ammonia is described as 'free ammonia'. The pH level of the water affects this change; at low pH levels, ammonia is more likely to appear as less toxic ammonium. This means that ammonia levels are more toxic in water with a high pH level.
Temperature also affects ammonia toxicity; higher temperatures cause more free ammonia to be released into the water. Test kits usually measure total ammonia levels (both ammonium and free ammonia), so it is often hard to measure how toxic the level of ammonia is in a sample of water.
The ammonia molecule is made up from three hydrogen atoms and one nitrogen. Bacteria convert ammonia through oxidation, replacing the hydrogen atoms with oxygen, to produce NO2 and NO3.
Testing For Ammonia.
1) Ammonia should be tested for regularly, especially in new aquariums. Some test kits use tablets, which need to be crushed in a glass tube with the correct amount of water.
2) After a set period of time, the water in the tube can be compared with a colour chart to obtain an ammonia reading.
Causes of high ammonia levels.
Dead fish, breakdown of filtration, introducing too many fiah at once. Too much dead organic matter.
The effects of high ammonia levels on fish.
Gill damage, breathing difficulties, destruction of the mucus layer, internal and external bleeding, disease, erratic swimming and jumping (escape response), death.
How to reduce high ammonia levels.
If levels of ammonia become dangerously high, carry out a series of water changes (no more than 30% each day) and use proprietary ammonia remover. In seriuos cases, it may be worth changing all the aquarium water and replacing it with fresh, heated and dechlorinated water.
