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    Version as of 02:36, 29 Mar 2024

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    We know high levels of NH3 (ammonia) is harmful to fish in the aquarium or pond but reducing them can often be a problem.

     

    The root cause of high NH3 can vary but usually it is worth checking the following:

     

    1.  make sure you are not over stocking or stocking too qucikly. Also see New tank syndrome.
    2. make sure you are not overfeeding.
    3.  make sure that a fish has not died in the pond or aquarium.
    4.  make sure that your filtration is working correctly and not too small
    5. ensure that water used for changes has a similar pH, else  NH3 may be converted from NH4 with a pH increase.
    6. filters may have been over cleaned and the beneficial bacteria colonies killed or removed.

     

    Here are a few common ways to remove or control ammonia:

     

    1. water changes - this is by far the fastest and most reliable method but care should be taken, click here to find out why.
    2. ammonia removing chemicals - there are many ammonia removers on the market but they are no magic cure. You have ammonia because somthing is wrong, using chemicals is not a long term solution.
    3. increasing biological filtration - this may take longer than the other above so may need to be used in conjunction with them. Usually it involves adding more filtration, especially with a high flow and media with a large surface area for bacteria to colonise. Another way is encourage bacteria to colonise much more rapidally a few tips can be found here.