How to Filter Ammonia From a Dolphin Storage Tank

Filtering ammonia and other contaminants from dolphin tanks while avoiding water conditions that can cause health issues for the dolphins is challenging, expensive and time consuming. All fish and marine mammals pollute their environments regularly because their excreta are toxic. One of the toxins that is produced as organic materials break down in dolphin tanks is ammonia. If ammonia is not removed from the environment, it builds to levels that can be fatal for the dolphins in the tank. Because dolphins in captivity are constantly contaminating the water in their environments, their storage tanks need constant water treatment to maintain healthy water quality.

Things You'll Need

  • Mechanical filter system
  • Biological filter system
  • Aluminum sulphate
  • Chlorine
  • Ozone gas
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Choose a filtration system. The filter should have enough capacity to effectively filter the water volume of the storage tank. There are three types of filtration systems for marine mammals: open systems, semi-closed systems and closed systems. Open filter systems use a natural source such as the sea to constantly replace the water in the tank. No water is recirculated in these systems. The water that is displaced by the new water is sent to waste. In semi-closed systems most of the water in the system is filtered and then recirculated through the system. Ten percent or more of the water is pumped in from an outside source such as the sea and the water that is displaced is sent to waste. In a closed system, the water in the system is filtered to keep it clean and pure and then it is recirculated through the environment. New water is only added to the system to replace water that is lost.

      Filters use either sand or diatomaceous earth, fossilized remains of unicellular plants, to remove the organic matter from the water that produces ammonia. A filter with the appropriate capacity for the storage tank is the first line of defense against ammonia buildup.

    • 2

      Chemically treat the water to filter extremely small particulates. The filter does not remove all pollutants from the water. There are very small particles that pass through the filter system without being removed from the environment. These particles can cause the buildup of ammonia over time. Remove these small particles using chemical methods. To precipitate very small contaminants, add aluminum sulphate to the water. The aluminum sulphate bonds to the particulate matter and makes it large enough for the filter system to remove it. Aquatic mammals breathe air, so chlorine in their tanks at appropriate levels does not harm them. Add chlorine in small amounts to kill infectious agents in the tank. Finally, infuse ozone gas into the water in the filter system as ozone removes toxic chemicals from the water, including ammonia.

    • 3

      Use a secondary biological filter with activated carbon to remove ammonia from the system. Activated carbon absorbs and retains toxic chemicals in the environment including ammonia. A biological filter system develops detoxifying bacteria that remove the ammonia by decomposing it. A biological filter system containing active carbon removes the ammonia from the system that the main filter system and chemical treatments may miss.