Reduce High Ammonia in Fish Tank

Maintaining a healthy environment for your aquatic pets is essential to their well-being and longevity. In an aquarium that is not properly established or maintained, ammonia can accumulate and reach harmful levels for fish.

Ammonia in fish tank

Ammonia is a toxic substance that released by fish waste and decaying matter, it can be detrimental to the health of fish.The main sources of ammonia are fish waste, uneaten food, and decaying organic matter such as dead plants or fish. Ammonia is produced through the breakdown of these organic substances by bacteria.

In a healthy aquarium, beneficial bacteria called nitrifying bacteria convert the toxic ammonia into less harmful substances, it through a process known as the nitrogen cycle. Initially, ammonia is converted into nitrite (NO2-) by bacteria called Nitrosomonas. But Nitrite is still toxic to fish, so another group of bacteria called Nitrobacter convert it into nitrate (NO3-), which is less harmful to fish in low to moderate concentrations. Nitrate can be removed from the water through regular water changes or live plants that can use it as a nutrient.

What causes ammonia in fish tank

Ammonia spike can happen due to various reasons below:

Overstocking: Having too many fish can overload the biological filtration capacity, leading to excess ammonia production in the tank.

Overfeeding: Feeding fish more than they can consume within a few minutes can result in uneaten food sinking to the bottom and decomposing, releasing ammonia into the water.

Poor filtration: If the aquarium filter is not properly sized or functioning, it may not be able to handle the biological load, allowing ammonia to accumulate to a spike.

Lack of maintenance: Infrequent water changes or failure to remove decaying organic matter can lead to ammonia build-up.

New tank syndrome: When setting up a new aquarium, the beneficial bacteria that convert ammonia to nitrite and nitrate need time to establish. During this initial phase, ammonia levels may rise until the bacterial colonies have grown sufficiently.

Fix ammonia in a fish tank

Now, let’s explore effective strategies to reduce high ammonia levels in fish tank, and promote a safe and thriving habitat for your underwater world.

Regular water changes

One of the simplest yet most effective ways to reduce high ammonia levels in tank is through water changes. 

Aim to change approximately 25% of the tank water every one to two weeks, depending on the size and stocking level of your aquarium. Use a siphon or a gravel vacuum to remove any uneaten food, fish waste, and debris. Then, replace the removed water with dechlorinated water that matches the temperature and pH of the tank.

Make a feeding schedule

Overfeeding your fish can lead to excessive ammonia production, so it is crucial to feed your fish the appropriate amount of food, ensuring they consume everything within 2-3minutes. The uneaten food will decompose and contribute to ammonia levels.You should consider a feeding schedule that involves small, frequent meals rather than a single large feeding. This approach minimizes leftover food and reduces the potential for ammonia spikes.

Install a quality filter

An aquarium filter is essential for maintaining water quality in your fish tank. Ammonia is converted into less harmful substances through the nitrogen cycle, primarily performed by beneficial bacteria residing in the filter media. Ensure that the hygger filter is properly sized for your tank and it is clean and replaced regularly. If necessary, consider upgrading to a more efficient filter that provides adequate mechanical, chemical, and biological filtration.

Establish a balanced Bioload

The bioload refers to the total amount of waste produced by the fish and other inhabitants in the tank. Overstocking can overwhelm the biological filtration capacity of your aquarium, leading to increased ammonia levels. Ensure your tank size and filtration system can accommodate them appropriately. It is better to under stock your tank and provide a healthier environment for your fish.

Introduce live plants

Aquatic plants offer numerous benefits.Consider adding live plants to your aquarium to help reduce ammonia levels. Plants also provide additional oxygen, shelter, and aesthetic appeal to your tank.

Test and monitor Ammonia levels

Monitoring ammonia levels in the tank is crucial to ensure the health of the fish. Regularly test in your aquarium using water testing kit allows you to identify any fluctuations or Ammonia spikes promptly. Maintain ammonia levels below 0.25 ppm, as even low concentrations can stress fish and compromise their immune systems. Monitoring ammonia levels will help you take immediate action and prevent any long-term negative effects on your fish.

By following these strategies, you can effectively reduce high ammonia levels in fish tank, and provide a healthier and safer environment for the aquatic pets. The prevention is the key, so maintaining good water quality through regular maintenance practices is vital.

Top seven aquarium stones for aquascape

1. Seiryu stone

Seiryu stones come in cyan with white veins, and it shapes like peaks. The textures on the stones are uniform in the same directions. Exactly, seiryu stones can be a great choice to build seiryu stone aquascape, including the Chinese aquascaping style and Japanese aquascaping styles. However, seiryu stones would improve the levels of pH and water hardness in the aquarium. But you can deal with it by changing water regularly.

2. Pine bark stone

Featuring gray, yellow, or brown colors, pine bark stones looks like a pine cone or the bark of pine trees. The stones are uneven, convex, and concave, which makes them beneficial for planting aquatic plants. Then how to use pine bark stones for aquascaping? You can use them to build an aquarium of the terraqueous plants’ aquascaping style or the hardscape aquascaping style. Alternatively, a Paludarium tank. Tap to the full Pine bark stone aquascape video for the appealing aquascape.

3. Unzan stone

Unzan stones are commonly used to build fish and planted tanks. They possess the structure of lava. And the pockets on unzan stones are beneficial for the growth of aquatic plants. Actually, unzan stones are applicable to aquariums of the marsh and plants aquascaping style.

4. Lava stone

Some lava stones are lightweight and porous, like black lava. Usually, lava stones are black or red. Furthermore, lava stones can be used to set up planted tanks or tanks with fish and plants. For instance, put the lava stones on both sides of a tank, then decorate the lava stone with small plants, like Water Banyan or Saxifraga stolonifera. After that, plant some tall aquatic plants on the back of the tank, such as Amazon sword, Water wisteria, and Hornwort.

5. Fossil wood

Fossil wood is formed by the trees buried hundreds of millions of years ago. It retains the texture of trees. And it can be used to build an aquarium of the African aquascaping style.

6. Stream stone

Stream stones are always rounded in diverse sizes. You can apply stream stones to build a riverbed effect in aquariums. And stream stones are excellent choices to set up aquariums of the nature aquascaping style or the stream aquascaping style.

7. Riverstone

Riverstone features attractive colors and patterns. Commonly, riverstone comes in yellow, red, green, or white colors and irregular oval shapes. Plus, they can be applied to build aquariums of the reptilian pet’s aquascaping style.

Source from hygger blog

Hygger Aquarium Products New Packaging

Hygger Aquarium Products New Packaging