Ammonia is extremely toxic to fish and other aquatic animals. The safe level of ammonia is 0 parts per million (ppm). A concentration of 2 ppm can cause fish to die in your tank.
No wonder, a high level of ammonia in a fish tank is one of the top causes of sudden goldfish death in a tank. Overstocking is also another cause of the high level of ammonia in the fish tank. So, make sure to put too many fish inside the tank.
As a fish keeper, you should be aware of the ammonia level in your fish tank. If you notice that your fish tank has a high level of ammonia, then you should do some things to reduce or lower it.
Make sure you also know symptoms of ammonia poisoning in fish. Ammonia poisoning in fish is very dangerous. So, try to understand and do some things to prevent if from happening to your fish.
Let’s see these 6 best ways to lower the ammonia level in a fish tank.
Partial water change is an excellent and efficient way of lowering ammonia levels. It helps maintaining a clean tank for your fish as well. Partial water change should be done once a week, however, you might need to do it more often, depending on your tank’s condition.
A good way to check if you should conduct a water change is by stirring up the substrate gravel with a fish net. If you see a lot of debris floating up, then it is the time to change the water.
- Reduce the Frequency and Quantity of the Food
One of the causes of the high level of ammonia in the fish tank is the uneaten food. This uneaten food could be the reason why the ammonia level increases in the fish tank.
By reducing the amount of food available in the tank, then you will lower the opportunities for the ammonia levels to rise.
Just make sure that your fish is still getting enough food. You can consult with your vet about how much food your fish needs to stay healthy.
- Put in Healthy Bacteria into the Water
Do you know that some bacteria are good for your fish tank? The colonies of bacteria that usually line a well-established fish tank’s bottom are helpful in converting ammonia into benign nitrogen components.
You can add the healthy bacteria into the water by using two ways. Firstly, you can put one or two inexpensive fish into the tank. The fish’s waste will bring in the bacteria.
Then, you can also add some healthy bacteria by putting a handful gravel from an older fish tank to your new fish tank.
- Keep Live Plants in the Fish Tank
Keeping live plants inside the fish tank is a good way to reduce ammonia level. The plants require macronutrients and micronutrients so that they can grow.
They get those nutrients from the waste produced by the fish and their uneaten food. As being elaborated before, one of the causes of the rising ammonia level is the uneaten food.
Live plants inside the fish tank will also release oxygen which is very essential for the fish. You can consider keeping these plants for your fish tank and how they are beneficial and get some of them for yours!
- Lower the pH Level of the Water
Lowering the pH level of the water won’t make any significant difference for removing the ammonia in the water. However, it makes it less dangerous and allow you to fix the problem.
Avoid using crushed coral or coral sand as they cause the water to have high pH. It is because it releases calcium that causes a rise in the pH level of the water.
If you’re planning to lower the pH level, then you also need to understand these symptoms of high pH in fish tank.
Using a filter for your fish tank will not only keep the water clear, but also provides a place for the beneficial bacteria to grow. These bacteria will later help to reduce the ammonia level in your fish tank.
For a small tank of 20 gallons of water, you can simply hang on the back filter. If you have larger tank, then you can put a canister filter.
If you plan to have a fish tank, make sure you follow these essential things for your fish tank. Decide what types of fish you want to pet, you can choose saltwater fish for your fish tank or freshwater fish that are perfect for your fish tank.