How to Treat Ammonia Burns in Saltwater Fish

Maintaining your saltwater aquarium's chemistry is necessary to keep your fish healthy. Not only does pH and salt content need to be regulated, but ammonia levels should be monitored. High ammonia levels can cause chemical burns on your fish's body because the normal mucous layer protecting the fish can't form. If your fish has ammonia burns it will eat less, have difficulty breathing, develop cloudy eyes and take on a ragged appearance. Left untreated, ammonia burns turn into bacterial infections that manifest as red patches on the fish's body. Treating the fish takes only a few days.

Things You'll Need

  • Extra aquarium and filtration equipment
  • Purified water
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Instructions

    • 1

      Set up an extra tank as a quarantine tank. This requires all the normal setup as a standard saltwater tank, but the water must have the perfect chemistry required by your fish to ensure their recovery.

    • 2

      Move the affected fish from your main saltwater tank to the quarantine tank.

    • 3

      Remove about half of the water from your main tank and replace it with new water. Adjust the water's pH and salt content so it meets your fish's requirements. Check the water's ammonia level the next day. If the ammonia level is high again, replace your filtration media.

    • 4

      Allow your quarantined fish at least three days to show signs of recovery. This includes eating well, a disappearance of the spots or cloudy eyes and an overall healthier appearance. Return them to the main tank once you have achieved a stable ammonia level in that tank.

    • 5

      Take a picture of your fish and consult with a vet specializing in fish care if your fish shows signs of bacterial infection or isn't showing signs of recovery. Your vet will prescribe an antibiotic that you will add to the quarantine tank. Follow all directions when administering the antibiotic.