Ammonia

In pristine natural environments, free nitrogenous compounds such as ammonia, nitrite and nitrate are extremely scarce, virtually all the available nitrogen is ‘locked away’ as plant or animal protein.

But today, with increased farming activities can be affected by high levels of ammonia and nitrite. The major routes of entry of nitrogenous waste into ponds are unconsumed feed, fecal matter, dead algae etc. In addition municipal and industrial wastewater, sewage works, septic tanks, waterways are polluted by farming activities.

Problems associated with excess Ammonia in Ponds

In managed closed pond environments, typical of the average pond, the problem of excess ammonia, nitrites and nitrates becomes apparent. The volumes of water in a fish pond are quite minute when compared to a large lake, so there is far less dilution nitrogenous compounds.

Ammonia is constantly being produced in aquaculture environments, small amounts can be traced to the diffusion of blood across the gill membranes of fish, but the majority of ammonia is produced through the process of mineralization which involves the conversion of waste products in the pond to ammonia by heterotrophic bacteria.

Another difference is the lack of plant life in the average pond. The end result is that free nitrogenous compounds are common in fish ponds. Symptoms high ammonia, nitrite and/or nitrate.

• Low oxygen levels
• Excessive green water or filamentous algae
• Excessive sludge
• Poor flavor of fish due to poor water quality
• Stressed Fish
• Many diseases
• Poor conversion efficiency excessive nitrogen and phosphorus in effluent.