Tips for Getting Rid of Ammonia in a Fish Tank

Keeping a fish tank requires that you monitor the tank for levels of chemicals, such as nitrates and ammonia. When you first set up the fish tank, achieving this balance takes time and patience. Ammonia is often one of the most challenging of the chemicals to control, especially when you have a larger number of fish. The ammonia in the tank comes from the fish's waste, which is always present. Keeping the balance often requires that you monitor the tank and sometimes add chemicals to counteract the ammonia.

  1. About Cycling

    • When you first set up a fish tank, it is important to establish a cycle before introducing all of the fish into the tank. While some bacteria and chemicals are dangerous to a fish tank, the tank requires a certain level of good bacteria to keep the ammonia levels down. Cycling the tank ensures the survival of these good bacteria. You can cycle your tank either with fish or without. If you choose to use fish, introduce two or three hardy fish into the tank. You can add more later. If you want to do a fishless cycle, you must use ammonia products purchased from a store.

    Cycling with Fish

    • Cycling with fish allows your tank to establish the good bacteria and a healthy level of chemicals naturally. Prepare the tank for your fish by layering the bottom with rocks or gravel, place plants into the bottom layer and fill the tank with water. A good filter is an important part of the cycle as well. Once the tank is set up, introduce two to three hardy fish. Feed the fish carefully, only giving them as much as they can consume in a couple of minutes. Change 10 to 15 percent of the water every two to three days to help keep chemical levels in check. Over the course of a six weeks to two months, the tank cycles and you can add more fish as the ammonia levels stay low enough to support fish life.

    Lowering Ammonia Levels

    • If you see any signs of rising ammonia levels, which include an increase in sick or dying fish, it is important to find the source of the problem and remedy the issue. Adding chemicals to the water isn't advised when dealing with ammonia because the chemicals disrupt the good bacteria needed to maintain low ammonia levels. This creates a vicious and dangerous cycle. Feeding the fish too much food or having too many fish in the tank can cause dangerous spikes in ammonia levels. Reduce feedings to the amount of food the fish can consume quickly. If food is left behind, it turns into ammonia. Removing a few of the fish can also lower the ammonia levels and save the rest of the fish. Changing 10 to 15 percent of the water can also alter the ammonia levels.

    Detecting Ammonia Levels

    • Any home test that detects ammonia levels in your fish tank may not read low enough to tell you there is a problem. Ammonia in your tank can be dangerous at levels below 1 part per million. Therefore, you can get a better idea of the levels by checking the pH levels of the tank. Acidic pH levels keep the dangerous levels of ammonia lower. If your fish tank registers with an alkaline pH level, use chemicals to alter the pH of the water. Once the pH level becomes more acidic, the toxic ammonia will naturally reduce.