Where does the ammonia originate
from?
Pond fish produce waste in the form of ammonia, which is released
into the water through the gills. Ammonia can also originate from the dead and
decaying plant material in the pond or from uneaten food, which is left in the
water.
In an established pond with a functioning filtration system the
ammonia is broken down by Nitrosomonas species of bacteria to a secondary product,
known as nitrite.
Ammonia can exist in two forms when dissolved in water,
the first is the free ammonia and this is very poisonous to fish, the second form is
known as ionized ammonia which is not quite as harmful as the free
form.
Ammonia can have a number of detrimental effects on pond fish
such as disrupting the ability to regulate water and salts, it may also
damage delicate gill tissue, causing swelling of the tissue which may hinder
the absorbtion of oxygen from the water.
If the water becomes
polluted with ammonia, regular partial water changes need to be undertaken to reduce
the concentration of the pollutant.
In the early stages of establishing a
filtration system on the pond, it may take several weeks before the ammonia level in
the water begins to drop. |