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Ammonia is released by most living organisms as part of the break down of organic matter. Fish waste contains a high level of ammonia, and they also secrete the substance at the gills.
Ammonia is very detrimental to fish health; it disturbs osmoregulatory function, irritates the gill and skin surfaces, destroys the protective mucous coating of the fish, causes internal and external bleeding, damages the brain and central nervous system. Even at levels below 0.01 ppm ammonia has been shown to depress the immune system of the fish.
Thus it is essential to regularly check the concentration of ammonia using a PondLab Ammonia Test Kit, in your pond or aquarium, to ensure that the bacteria are functioning correctly and all toxic waste ammonia is being removed. (If using the Ammonia test kit in saltwater or hard water aquaria, the amount of reagent 1 added should be doubled, to counteract the higher concentration of dissolved salts). |
