Clean water will care you aquatic pets:: Ammonia.

[SCORPIO]

Poor water quality is responsible for sudden death of fishes. Most of fish/invertebrates have some specific water requirements. Wrong water parameters and presence of pollutants in water causes premature deaths/sickness in the fishes and invertebrates.

Ammonia

Ammonia occurs in a newly setup tank. However, it can also appear in a established tank due to too much bio load, decaying plants, dead fish, uneaten food. In aquarium Ammonia present in two forms: NH3 and NH4. Out of two NH3 is more dangerous for the fishes. It does not mean that NH4 is safe. So we could try to keep Ammonia level as below as possible. When Ammonia level rises, pH level will be drop.

Symptoms of Ammonia poisoning:

a. Sudden death of fish.
b. Problems in nervous system, internal organs, gills and immune system.
c. Difficulty in breathing.
d. Lack of appetite.

How to keep Ammonia level in control:

1. Presence of Nitrifying bacteria: Nitrifying bacteria converts the toxic ammonia into less toxic nitrite.
2. Some rocks and resins are able to soak Ammonia.
3. Addition of some salt. (1 gram per litre)
4. Algae and plants also consume ammonia.
5. Feeding under control.
6. Removing dead fishes/Invertebrates/Plants.
7. Water change drops Ammonia level instantly.

So care your aquarium water and water will be care your aquatic pets.

[maaz]

good post...

[sushant]

[apuda2010]

Good info Rajiv. I would add one more thing for hobbyists who have started new. Please cycle your tanks for atleast 2-3 weeks using either a sponge filter or a canister filter. The absence of nitrate eating bacteria will result in alarming levels of ammonia in the tank and lead to sudden deaths of most fish.

[SCORPIO]

In the starting days of hobby, most of us have faced this problem.

[jack]

In the starting days of hobby, most of us have faced this problem.

very true.....

[nick17s]

3. Addition of some salt. (1 gram per litre)

Hi can we use normal iodized salt (white salt used in our kitchen)

[Romi]

very instructive, rajiv. all beginners need to understand ammonia FIRST. it is the most common killer of fish after all.

[Romi]

@nick

best to use the crude salt sold in lumps for feeding cattle in delhi. ask a friend from an urban village like Munirka or Mehrauli. He will get it for u. At Rithala village, for instance, it costs 3 bucks a kilo only! I know it comes straight from the salt beds of Kutch.

It is just sea salt, unprocessed. Full of minerals also, but not iodine, which I think is added in too generous an amount in iodized salt to be suitable for FW fish.