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Ammonia in Marine Aquariums
What is Ammonia?
Ammonia is the biggest killer of fish in aquariums. Typically ammonia levels build up when you Nitrogen Cycle a new saltwater aquarium, but ammonia can build up when the fishes are to many for the size of the aquarium and hence overloading.
Dead or decaying materials within the saltwater aquarium cannot be fully cleared away using aquarium filtration systems alone. Ammonia is formed when the excretion of fish in the tank, or any other waste material within the tank starts decaying and decomposing. Decayed food and any other decaying organic materials will increase the concentration of Ammonia within a tank. The exact toxicity of Ammonia will depended on several factors such as water salinity, pH, temperature etc. If the concentration of ammonia can be detected in your aquarium it is said to be too high for your fish.
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Controlling Ammonia concentration within the tank can be achieved by cycling your tank. The nitrogen cycle aimis to create a colony of beneficial bacteria that will feed on the decomposing and decaying matter and will convert them into useful compounds. Bacteria called as Nitrosomonas consume the Ammonia that gets mixed in water and converts this into Nitrites and therefore we go to stage two in the nitrogen cycle. That is why it is necessary to cycle the tank before introducing fish in it. It is in the absence of such bacteria that the Ammonia levels start shooting up in a newly set up tank. These beneficial bacteria only need some organic matter and some time to make a colony.
Why Ammonia Posioning Happens?
Ammonia poisoning happens for two reasons:
- Tank not cycled correctly- introducing a large number of fish into the new tank will cause the Ammonia concentration to increase . Thi is cause the fish will be producing waste and the beneficial bacteria is absent and hence cant be converted and the ammonia will increase until the fish start to die off or if the population of fish is too high for the aquarium size the fish produce too much waste for the beneficial bacteria to handle and it will lead to raise in concreation of ammonia.
- Filter failure, lack of maintenance, over-feeding and use of medications- Sometimes over-enthusiastic beginners will also clean the biological filter media, thus killing the beneficial bacterial colony. When filters are being cleaned, it is important to keep the bacterial colony intact. After cleaning, the good bacteria will need time to recover and cope with the aquarium demands.
Symptoms of Ammonia Poisioning
Fish will show common symptoms if they have ammonia poisoning. The fish starts gasping for air and appear almost always at the surface of the water, or if the fish becomes very lethargic and spends a lot of time simply lying at the bottom of the tank, the fish may be showing signs of Ammonia over-dose. Or maybe the fish shows a red streaking on its fins or elsewhere on the body, this too could be indicative of high levels of Ammonia in the water. Loss of appetite is another common symptom. If the gills of the fish become red or purple, Ammonia levels need to be checked immediately.
How to Reduce Ammonia?
The best way to reduce Ammonia levels in a tank is through partial water changes. A new aquarium should always be cycled. Any new fish should be added slowly maybe only two at a time to ensure no overloading of the aquarium. Proper maintenance of filters is also a must to keep Ammonia levels down.
Water Parameters
Learn and understand the saltwater aquarium water parameters as these are the most often tested for your saltwater fish to thrive and survive!
- pH and Acid
- Salinity
- Carbonate Hardness
- Nitrite
Beneficial bacteria in the biological filter will convert toxic ammonia into nitrite but this is still toxic.
Regular testing is essential and once you have detected its presence, you should take all the necessary steps to remove it before it become worse.
- As any high levels of nitrite found in your saltwater aquarium can quickly lead to fish loss. Even small amount of nitrite traced in your saltwater causes stress to your fish.
- Nitrate
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See the suggested level for this parameter for your saltwater aquarium on the chart below.
Nitrate is what maintains an aquarium’s biological filtration system function and stay in balance. Nitrite is converted into nitrate during this cycling process.
Nitrates are not as toxic as ammonia or nitrites but they are harmful and will stress your fish at high enough levels.
Constant water changes are ideal to remove nitrates in your water. See the suggested level of this parameter for your saltwater aquarium on the chart below.
| Aquarium Parameters |
Suggested Level: Reef Aquarium |
Suggested Level: FOWLR Aquarium |
Average Level: Coral Reefs |
| Specific Gravity | 1.023 - 1.025 | 1.020 - 1.025 | 1.025 |
| Temperature | 72 - 78°F | 72 - 78°F | 82°F |
| pH | 8.1 - 8.4 | 8.1 - 8.4 | 8.0 - 8.5 |
| Alkalinity | 8 - 12 dKH | 8 - 12 dKH | 6 - 8 dKH |
| Ammonia (NH3) | Undetectable | Undetectable | Near Zero |
| Nitrite (NO2) | Undetectable | Undetectable | Near Zero |
| Nitrate - Nitrogen (NO3) |
< 1.0 ppm | < 30 ppm | < 0.25 ppm |
| Phosphate (PO4) | < 0.2 ppm | < 1.0 ppm | < 0.13 ppm |
| Calcium | 350 - 450 ppm | 350 - 450 ppm | 380 - 420 ppm |
| Magnesium | 1250 - 1350 ppm | 1150 - 1350 ppm | 1300 ppm |
| Iodine | 0.06 - 0.10 ppm | 0.04 - 0.10 ppm | 0.06 ppm |
| Strontium | 8 - 14 ppm | 4 - 10 ppm | 8 - 10 ppm |
Complete guide to maintenance and care of your saltwater aquarium
Text and Photo Source: Saltwater Aquarium Online Guide
Nitrogen Cycle in Saltwater Aquariums
It has many names Nitrogen cycle, cycling, nitrification, biological cycle, startup cycle, break-in cycle – its what all aquariums need to undergo this process. Basically the nitrogen cycle is when beneficial bacteria are established in your saltwater aquarium.
We will discuss and learn how it works, how long it will take to get the cycle completed, ways you can do to cycle the saltwater aquarium and the important function the nitrogen process plays in keeping your saltwater aquarium working properly.
The process of the nitrogen cycle can take from 2 weeks or longer, there is no exact time frame as each aquarium set up is different.
Factors that determine where you are in the process are based on how many fish or other livestock, and organic matter you have in your aquarium.
The three components that are involved are ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. Test your water often during the process and log your readings. This will tell you what phase the aquarium is in.
The best way to monitor the nitrogen cycle process is by usng a saltwater test kit that will test the three components involve in the process.
Text and Photo Source: Saltwater Aquarium Online Guide
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