Treating ammonia and nitrite in water pond

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These invisible nitrogenous compounds are present in small quantities in the water as a result of the normal 'nitrogen cycle' of the pond or pool, but the bacteria in the bottom of the pool or in the filter should quickly break them down. For the nitrogen cycle to function efficiently, an adequate amount of oxygen needs to be available in the water for the bacteria to begin to process the toxic chemicals. If as a result of some imbalance or stress on the environment, ammonia or nitrites build up then the fish will soon die.

AMMONIA is toxic to fish in minute proportions. It is present in fish excreta and is even exuded from the gills of Koi carp. This release increases as the fish become unhappier with their environment, which in turn increases their discomfort. This creates a spiral of deterioration.

1. Effect

Even at a dilution of .25mg/litre the toxicity of ammonia can become critical. Even a fraction of this concentration increases susceptibility to disease and irritates the gills of sensitive fish. A rise in pH makes matters worse and increases ammonia's toxicity.

EMERGENCY TREATMENT.1: Partial water change of up to a third of the pool water volume. This may be necessary every day until the problem subsides.

2. Pump in oxygen.

3. If you have a filter, check that it is functioning adequately. It may be clogged up and or lacking in oxygen, which has resulted in it being colonised by the wrong type of bacteria. You may be able to tell by the smell.

Have you just turned it on after a winter of standing stagnant and idle, or left it standing idle whilst you went on holiday in the summer?

4. Try to remove some of the sludge and detritus from the bottom of the pond. But this can make matters worse if it is not done carefully. It might be a case for total clean out if the material cannot be effectively siphoned or vacuumed out with a pond vacuum.

5. The addition of salt at the rate of 3gm/litre as tonic reduces the toxicity of ammonia and nitrites. This unfortunately will destroy the biological activity of the filter. So avoid giving successive doses without a total cleanout.

6. If you have a biological filter, it obviously is not working as yet. It may be too cold or it may not have built up a colony of the necessary bacteria as yet. Try adding a dose of filter culture from a successful working filter or a proprietary product like 'Pond Start' to get it going .

NITRITES are the compounds formed in the first stage of the break down of ammonia to the relatively harmless nitrates by aerobic bacteria in ponds and biological filters. Because of this they are called nitrifying bacteria and in order to do this job they need a continuous supply of oxygen. The nitrite concentration should not exceed 0.2mg Nitrite Nitrogen per litre of water.

EFFECTS. The blood of the fish is contaminated and the haemoglobin is prevented from carrying oxygen around the body. The result is that the fish gasp for air at the surface of the water breathing rapidly.

Prolonged levels of low toxicity produce poor coloration, weak growth and a greater susceptibility to disease.