Ammonia & PH Levels in an Aquarium

If you own an aquarium, you are in a sense creating an artificial environment. You provide the setting in terms of the water body, the plants and the food. You choose the organisms that live in your aquarium. You also must control the water in this environment as you replace the natural forces that may keep the ammonia and pH levels in a lake in balance.

  1. Water Testing

    • You should do periodic testing of your aquarium water to make sure that ammonia and pH levels are at optimal levels. You can purchase test kits at your pet store. The kit will indicate proper pH and ammonia levels. Some stores may also offer to do testing free or for a nominal charge. Testing is important as water conditions can change quickly, especially if you have a smaller sized tank such as a 10-gallon aquarium.

    Nitrogen Cycle

    • Fish produce ammonia through their waste and uneaten food, which enter the aquarium water. Bacteria in the aquarium gravel or sand will oxidize and break down this ammonia through a chemical process called the nitrogen cycle. The first product of this cycle is nitrites. Both ammonia and nitrites can be toxic to your aquarium fish at high levels. The chemical process continues with the production of nitrates. Aquarium plants will use nitrates for food. The remainder will dissipate as nitrogen from the water surface of your tank.

    Risk Factors

    • If you overfeed your fish or have too many in your aquarium, ammonia levels are likely to rise to levels of which the existing bacteria cannot remove. That is why it is important to only feed enough food for fish to feed on at a time. If you see piles of uneaten food on the aquarium bottom, you are overfeeding. Another indication of unhealthy conditions is the behavior of fish themselves. Bacteria in the tank, like the fish, will use the dissolved oxygen in the water. If bacteria levels rise too quickly, the amount of dissolved oxygen will decline. The fish then will be seen gasping for air at the water surface. High ammonia levels will increase the acidity of the water.

    Maintaining Water Quality

    • The important thing to understand about aquariums is that you are creating a closed ecosystem. In natural situations, changes will occur slowly, giving fish plenty of time to react. To keep your aquarium healthy, you must replicate these changes and in the same manner. To do so, do weekly or biweekly partial water changes in your tank. You can use an aquarium siphon available at your pet store to remove waste and uneaten food from the gravel. Preferably, the water should be aged by standing in a bucket for a few days. Also, you should add a chlorine remover. Replace no more than 20 percent of the water at a time.

    Prevention/Solution

    • To prevent water quality issues, always add fish slowly when you first set up your tank. Using a filter will remove debris in the water and keep pH levels and ammonia under control. Bear in mind that filters may require periodic maintenance to function properly.