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If you notice an ammonia spike after a water change in your aquarium, you should immediately test the water parameters and do a partial water change to dilute the ammonia. Additionally, check your filter and make sure it is working properly. Monitor the ammonia levels closely and consider adding beneficial bacteria to help break down the ammonia.
Ammonia is a base. To fix it, perhaps try adding buffer to the water. Just as a side note, the ammonia is actually a product of the fish. Fish pee pure ammonia because of the abundance of water in their system.
The ammonia level may still be high after a water change because the beneficial bacteria in the aquarium may not have had enough time to establish and break down the ammonia. It is also possible that the tank is overstocked or overfed, leading to excess ammonia production. Regular water testing and maintenance can help address high ammonia levels in the aquarium.
You need to get a water pump and filter for the aquarium at a pet store.
It could be any number of aquarium diseases. take a sample of water and the next fish that dies to your local aquarium store and have them looked at.
Water pump does nothing for the aquarium. Aquarium filter on the other hand, does biological filtration for the tank. You need to understand the natural behind having a filter in the tank. It is for nitrogen cycle. Fish produce ammonia as waste, and some beneficial bacteria feed on ammonia will colonize the filter media. They convert ammonia into nitrite, then convert nitrite into nitrate. Ammonia and nitrite are both toxic. Nitrate is relatively harmless at low concentration, yet it can crash the PH and lower fish immune system if the concentration is too high. For a well maintained aquarium, we do partial water change of 30~50% once a week in order to keep nitrate in check, as well as to restore water buffer and minerals. To understand this better, you need to learn more about aquarium nitrogen cycle.
Fish waste itself is not called ammonia, but it does produce ammonia as it decomposes. Fish excrete ammonia directly through their gills and urine, which can accumulate in aquatic environments. Ammonia is toxic to fish at high levels, making it essential for aquarists to manage waste and maintain water quality. Proper filtration and regular water changes help mitigate ammonia buildup in fish tanks.
The reason why you need to do regular weekly (at minimum) water changes in your aquarium is due to fish waste. Toxins such as ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate will build up and cause harm, or even death to your fish.By changing out at least 50% of the water and adding new water (that is the same temperature as the old water) keeps the toxins at safe levels; your ammonia and nitrites should test at zero, and your nitrates at less than 10 to 20ppm.Also, make sure that you are using aquarium water conditioner per the instructions on the bottle to remove harmful chemicals (such as chloramine) from your tap water to make it safe for your fish.
Toxic substances in an aquarium primarily include ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates, which can accumulate from fish waste, uneaten food, and decaying plants. High levels of ammonia and nitrites are particularly harmful, causing stress or death to fish and other aquatic life. Additionally, certain chemicals like chlorine, chloramine, and heavy metals can also be toxic, affecting water quality and the health of the aquarium inhabitants. Regular water testing and maintenance are essential to prevent toxicity and ensure a healthy aquatic environment.
Most aquatic animals, such as fish and marine invertebrates, excrete their nitrogenous waste mainly as ammonia. Ammonia is highly soluble in water and can be easily released through their gills or directly into the environment. This adaptation is beneficial in aquatic environments where water is readily available to dilute and remove toxic ammonia.
If you mean to test the water in your aquarium, you need a liquid test kit. We typically use a master kit which can test water for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and PH. API Master kit is what we use most often.
You should change the water in an aquarium regularly, typically every 1-2 weeks, to maintain a healthy environment for the fish and remove waste and toxins.