Gettin ammonia down

[guppy]

+1 on the successive water changes. I'm not a fan of "Ammonia removing chemicals" because they work like a sponge; once saturated, they aren't absorbing squat anymore.
Of course, the second most important thing to rember regarding ammonia levels is to figure out why you have ammonia in the first place and correct it.

I fully agree on the chemical use, people tend to use them as a quick fix then wonder when the next spike is even worse do too saturation, or even worse breakdown of the chemical with re-release of the stored ammonia products.
I do like the idea of using a product like ammo-lock for shipping or transporting large fish overnight. A big cat or pikeminnow can produce a lot of urea in one night and they tend to be shipped in minimal water. I have not tried it yet but have read that it can reduce ammonia related stress.

 

[RadleyMiller]

I fully agree on the chemical use, people tend to use them as a quick fix then wonder when the next spike is even worse do too saturation, or even worse breakdown of the chemical with re-release of the stored ammonia products.
I do like the idea of using a product like ammo-lock for shipping or transporting large fish overnight. A big cat or pikeminnow can produce a lot of urea in one night and they tend to be shipped in minimal water. I have not tried it yet but have read that it can reduce ammonia related stress.

People also forget the Zeolite is reactivated by NaCl and forget it is in the tank and then treat the tank with salt and have all of their fish die from an ammonia spike.

Ammonia is a toxic, in our bodies we pee it out. In a fish's system they remove it through osmosis through their gills. When the concentration outside of the fish and inside of the fish are the same, no net movement occurs. When this level reaches deadly concentrations in the water, the toxins cannot leave the fish and the fish dies.

Correct me if I am wrong.

 

[davo]

So ammonia burn is more concentrated at the gills? ouch.

 

[RadleyMiller]

So ammonia burn is more concentrated at the gills? ouch.

The gills are the secretory glands for the ammonia, but the burning occurs everywhere.

 

[guppy]

The gills are the secretory glands for the ammonia, but the burning occurs everywhere.

RM, I cannot and will not even try to correct such a correct statement, or the equally apt one about zeolite.
And while ammonia poisons the entire fish, if you are lucky and quick enough to catch the early symptoms, the eyes and gills show damage first as they tend to be most senstive, unfortunately the time between first symptoms and death is usually pretty short.

Water changes and great biofiltration ar4e the safest ways to prevent ammonia poisoning.
Prevention is worth far more than cures.

 

[RadleyMiller]

RM, I cannot and will not even try to correct such a correct statement, or the equally apt one about zeolite.
And while ammonia poisons the entire fish, if you are lucky and quick enough to catch the early symptoms, the eyes and gills show damage first as they tend to be most senstive, unfortunately the time between first symptoms and death is usually pretty short.

Water changes and great biofiltration ar4e the safest ways to prevent ammonia poisoning.
Prevention is worth far more than cures.

so I was right?

Thank's guppy!

Honestly, no one ever told me that before, I just assumed it was true knowing what I know about toxins and osmosis.

 

[guppy]

LOL, nothing wrong with being right.