How to treat High Ammonia in a pond
What does it look like?
- High ammonia test results
- Invisible issue
What are the fish doing?
- Acting irritable - 'scratching', jumping, twitching, shimmying
- Breathing at the water's surface
- Fish appear pale or dark
- Flicking against objects
- Gasping
- rapid gill movement
What should I do?
- Complete a 25% water change and retest after a few hours
- Treat with Ammonia Remover
- When at a safe level of 0.0mg treat the pond with Bio start or Bioactive Bio Activator to boost the bacteria in your filter that process ammonia
- Continue to regularly test your water
Why does this happen and how do I prevent it?
Ammonia is a naturally occurring chemical in your pond created by the breakdown of waste/sludge i.e. fish food and excrement and plants. Ammonia should be naturally broken down by bacteria in your pond through a process called the Nitrogen Cycle.
High Ammonia is caused by:
- Inadequate or immature biological filtration
- Over stocking of fish
- Over feeding of fish
- High temperatures
- Control all of these factors to prevent high ammonia.
If you are keeping a pond with fish, we would recommend using a filter to help create a healthy environment for your fish and wildlife. Mechanical filtration will remove physical waste matter, whilst the Biological Filter will break down the chemicals released by waste through the Nitrogen cycle. Filters have the media needed to harbour and mature a strong biological filter to reduce water quality problems.
What treatment should I use?
Blagdon Ammonia Remover
Blagdon Bio Start
Blagdon Wildlife Bio-activator
Liquid for ponds without fish
Use with any of the above
Blagdon Tap Water Fresh Start
Blagdon Wildlife Pond Tapsafe
For ponds without fish
Blagdon Stress Away
Blagdon Pond Guardian Pond Salt
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