how do you keep Ammonia down

[joey54180]

how do you keep Ammonia down

 

[Sky042]

Start by reading this thread
http/fish.orbust.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=10099

That will help you understand the nitrogen cycle that will consume the ammonia and eventually turn it into a non-toxic(in low levels) chemical.

 

[millym]

water changes regularly - we do a 25% weekly on our 37 uk gal & never have an ammonia prob

 

[gadazobe]

If this is a new tank then it must cycle first. Read the link that millym suggested to explain how this works. In an established tank there shoudn't be ammonia and if there is, then check carefully for dead fish, excess food that isn't getting eaten or even dead plants.

BTW, water changes during the cycling period will extend the length of the cycle but will keep the fish happier.

 

[heresmike]

water changes regularly - we do a 25% weekly on our 37 uk gal & never have an ammonia prob

Water changes are for lowering the nitrates, not ammonia. Good advice from the others.... a cycled tank should never test positive for ammonia!

 

[mrV]

Just put a picture of nitrification on my homepages

It is, naturally, in finnish, but everybody can understand it. ("ruokaa" = "food", "valo" = light", "aineenvaihdunta" = "metabolism", "muut ravinteet" ="other nutrients", "ammoniakki/ammoniumyhdisteet" = "ammonia/ammonium-compounds" )