Ammonia buildup in the aquarium results from a breakdown of fish metabolism. Since ammonia (NH3) constantly converts to ammonium (NH4+) and vice versa, ammonia test kits usually measure both, resulting in a total ammonia (ammonia-N) concentration.
In an established tank, the reading of this test needs to show an undetectable level at all times. A detectable presence of total ammonia requires immediate action.
Ammonia is highly toxic in freshwater tanks, but even more toxic in reef and saltwater environments. This is due to a higher pH level that causes the presence of ammonia gas, which in turn is far more toxic and water soluble.
Purify your aquarium with ALGONE
Provide your fish with the healthiest habitat possible. Round out your hard work and maintenance efforts with naturally purifying ALGONE… learn more
Even low concentrations of ammonia-N severely stress fish; this makes them vulnerable to diseases, thereby shorting their life span. Accumulating ammonia will not only be highly toxic and cause severe stress to the fish, but will be lethal!
Ammonia toxicity is significantly influenced by temperature and pH. The lower the temperature and pH, the more ammonia can be tolerated. For example, a fish tank kept at 68 degrees F can tolerate more than twice the amount of ammonia as a tank kept at 86 degrees F.
Lethal ammonia concentrations at a pH of 6.5 are 0.73 ppm, while at pH 8.5, only 0.17 ppm is considered lethal to inhabitants.
Aquarium Articles You Might Also Enjoy
Aquarium Maintenance Tips and Fish Care Guidelines
Here we discuss the basic tasks of routine aquarium maintenance. Included are tips for daily, weekly, bi-monthly, and monthly aquarium maintenance practices.
How Much Should I Feed My Aquarium Fish?
The primary cause of many aquarium problems is accumulating waste in the water. Fish food is the main source of this waste, often resulting in high nutrients and green water.
Keeping African Dwarf Frogs in the Aquarium
The African Dwarf Frog is an aquatic species and cannot survive on land. Two to three inches in length, these dark-green colored frogs prefer small stoned smooth gravel.