Fish Pond Ammonia & PH Problems

Ammonia is a toxic byproduct of fish waste, excess food and plant matter decay. It is transformed by bacteria into a less harmful form of nitrogen usable by plants for growth. At high levels, it can disrupt the pH of the water and lead to fish death.

  1. Nitrogen Cycle

    • Ammonia problems occur when the nitrogen cycle is unbalanced. Several types of beneficial bacteria change ammonia into nitrite, then nitrite into nitrate, which is much less toxic to fish.

    pH

    • The more toxic form of ammonia is higher when the pH of the water is higher, which is over a pH of 8.0.

    Algae Blooms

    • Ammonia spikes occur often right after an algae bloom die off as the dead algae cells sink to the bottom and decay.

    Ammonia and Fish Health

    • Exposure to even small amounts of ammonia over prolonged periods can lead to poor fish growth and a susceptibility to fungal and bacterial infections. High levels of are lethal.

    pH and Fish Health

    • Too low pH causes acidosis, which will lead to death. Too high is called alkalosis and is also terminal. Most fish prefer a neutral around 7.0.