Unfortunately, detecting high levels of ammonia can be difficult because it’s invisible. Then, your tank is at risk of elevated ammonia levels.įishLab Fact: A sudden jump in ammonia levels is called an ammonia spike. If you can associate any of the following with your aquarium… It’s simple… Keep your ammonia levels at zero for happy and healthy fish. When fish are stressed, they are more likely to develop diseases, lose their color, suffer from stunted growth or even become unable to reproduce. Your fish are likely under immense stress. If your fish can tolerate elevated ammonia levels, it doesn’t mean that she is happy. Some fish have a higher tolerance to ammonia than others. This process is known as nitrate poisoning. Once your ammonia levels exceed zero, that’s when problems start to occur.Īt low levels, ammonia burns the gills of your fish, placing them under incredible stress.Īs ammonia levels rise, it damages the brain and organs of your fish, until they eventually die. What happens if your ammonia levels are too high? But in an established aquarium, a spike in ammonia can indicate major problems. So, if you are cycling a new fish tank, high levels of ammonia are to be expected. This is actually a major reason why you cycle – to allow bacteria that live in your biological filter to grow in number until they can break down ammonia as quickly as it is produced. You see, in a new healthy tank, bacteria does not exist in large enough numbers to break down the ammonia as it is produced. There is only one exception to this rule… If ammonia levels are higher than zero, you need to find the cause of the problem, and fast. In a stocked tank, your aquarium test kit reading for ammonia should read 0 ppm (parts per million). The acceptable level of ammonia in your mature tank is…Īmmonia is pretty bad news. What ammonia levels are acceptable in your aquarium? In high enough numbers, these beneficial bacteria break down ammonia as quickly as it is produced, keeping your tank ammonia free. Nitrate levels are then removed from your aquarium each time you perform a water change. This process forms part of the nitrogen cycle.ĭon’t remember how the nitrogen cycle works? Here’s a quick recap…ġ. As waste breaks down, it produces ammonia.Ģ. Good bacteria, called nitrosomonas, break down the ammonia into nitrites.ģ. A second bacteria, called nitrobacter, then feeds on the nitrites and produces nitrates. Well, that was done to introduce beneficial bacteria into your aquarium – bacteria that eats ammonia. The only way to avoid ammonia is to not own a fish tank.įortunately, in a healthy aquarium, nature takes care of ammonia for you.ĭo you remember when you cycled your new aquarium? Unfortunately, it also occurs naturally in every aquarium…Īs organic waste begins to break down, it releases ammonia. What are ammonia Levels, and where does it come from?Īmmonia, NH3, is an invisible chemical that is highly toxic to your fish. Double check how many fish are in your aquarium What happens if your ammonia levels are too high?.What ammonia levels are acceptable in your aquarium?.What are ammonia Levels, and where does it come from?.
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