Ammonia Question

[GBG]

Newbie Question:

What could be the cause of the presence of ammonia in a fully cycled tank, and what's the fix? Hasn't happened to me yet, but want to be prepared b/c I know ammonia is deadly. Thanks.

 

[rallysman]

not enough biological filtration.
(because of quick increase in fish or too small of a filter.)

 

[Dr Joe]

Everything organic you put in the tank... fish waste & uneaten food for starts, dead fish hidden behind the filter. SNAILS if ya got 'em.

Do a search on ammonia on this site and read the posts, they'll tell you what and how to handle it.

Glad to see you ask questions before there's a problem.

 

[GBG]

Thanks guys

 

[HarleyK]

SNAILS if ya got 'em.

That's not correct. A healthy snail population actually reduces the risk of ammonia peaks, since they eat leftover food and cadavers. It's when all the snails die at once (e.g. treatment with algizide or snail killer). That's when you may get problems with ammonia. Or if you have a tennis-ball sized apple snail and it kicks the bucket.

In general, snails are our friends They only become a pest when you feed too much.

HarleyK




.

 

[Dr Joe]

That's not correct. A healthy snail population actually reduces the risk of ammonia peaks, since they eat leftover food and cadavers. It's when all the snails die at once (e.g. treatment with algizide or snail killer). That's when you may get problems with ammonia. Or if you have a tennis-ball sized apple snail and it kicks the bucket.

In general, snails are our friends They only become a pest when you feed too much.

HarleyK




.

Your right, snails 'r' our friends... in moderation. And they too have to ends.