Ammonia in Marine Aquarium

Ammonia in Marine Aquarium

Ammonia – Introduction: Ammonia is highly toxic to fish as well as the other inhabitants of a marine aquarium. Ironically, ammonia also marks the commencement of the all-important nitrogen cycle, which takes place in all aquaria periodically and aids in achieving a biologically balanced and stable saltwater tank. During the first stage of the cycle, ammonia present in the tank is converted to nitrite through bacterial action. The nitrogen cycle facilitates the growth of these beneficial bacteria, which thrive on the harmful emissions and need only little time to multiply into colonies. As their number increases, so does their capacity to absorb this deadly chemical and minimize its effect on marine life.

Sources of Ammonia: Biological processes within a marine tank, such as the excreta of its inhabitants and the decay & decomposition of uneaten food, lead to ammonia production.

External sources such as tap water, the salts being used or other additives like those for calcium and magnesium, might contain impurities and add to the ammonium content within a marine aquarium.

Impact on Marine Life: Ammonia is lethal when mixed in water and the largest killer of fish in a marine aquarium. The symptoms of ammonia poisoning include:

Listlessness and lack of activity in the fish

Breathlessness and gasping for air by constantly staying near the surface of water

Loss of appetite

Appearance of red streaks on fins, gills, or elsewhere on the body

Prevention & remedies:

Complete cycling of a new tank before the addition of delicate inhabitants

Routine partial water changes

Avoid overpopulating the tank

Avoid over feeding the tank inhabitants

Addition of maximum two new fish at a time

Proper maintenance of filters

Use of chemical ammonia removers specifically designed for salt water use

Conclusion: Always strive to maintain a balance between the ammonia levels and the population of ammonia feeding bacteria in the tank. Timing is of the essence in achieving that. It is imperative to give time to a newly set up aquarium to cycle completely and wait until the ammonia levels fall to almost zero, before adding delicate creatures. Initial cycling can be accomplished with a few tough and inexpensive organisms, such as hermits and crabs. The use of live rock and live sand is also recommended. As the tank reaches a state of equilibrium and ammonia levels are found to be constantly negligible, new additions can be gradually made each time, allowing enough period for the aquarium to regain balance. Routine testing needs to be done to detect problems at an early stage.

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