semper fi
mrs southeast michigan 2005
since there seems to be much confusion with ammonia and nitrates i thought i would make this post as a point of reference for others.
fish continually release ammonia directily into the aquarium through their gills, urine and solid waste. uneaten food and other decaying organic matter also add ammonia to the water. the biological filter is a natural mechanism which exists to control ammonia. the biological filter is made up of nitrifying bacteria which resides in the gravel bed. ammonia can cause gill membrane damage and normal respiration. high levels can cause fish death. any amount of ammonia, even trace amounts can cuase fish stress. when fish are stressed their immune system is suppressed which can open the door to disease outbreaks and death.
Nutrifying bacteria in the biological filter convert the toxic ammonia into nitrite. Nitrite is then converted into nitrate. Nitrite causes the fish from having normal respiratory function. Nitrite is also needed in planted tanks to feed the plants. slower growing plants require less nitrites than faster growing plants. Nitrites can also be removed by water changes.
Hardness of the water (gh) is dependent on the measure of calcium and magnesium ion concentrations in water, Hard water is high in calcium and magnesium while soft water is low in these concentrations. Carbonate hardness (kh) is the measurement of carbonate and bicarbonate ion concentrations in water. Kh helps to stabilize the ph in aquariums. Aquariums with low levels of kh are considered acidic and are subject to rapid ph changes. Higher levels of kh create high ph levels. Aquariums with high levels are considered alkaline. when water evaporates the ions are left behind. these are the white powder type substance that is usually found along the rims of the tank. when adding water to compensate for the evaporation these ions need to be removed, if not they can increase the gh level in the aquarium. certain substrates and filter mediums can also help to stabilize ph and bring these levels up.
hth
maggie
fish continually release ammonia directily into the aquarium through their gills, urine and solid waste. uneaten food and other decaying organic matter also add ammonia to the water. the biological filter is a natural mechanism which exists to control ammonia. the biological filter is made up of nitrifying bacteria which resides in the gravel bed. ammonia can cause gill membrane damage and normal respiration. high levels can cause fish death. any amount of ammonia, even trace amounts can cuase fish stress. when fish are stressed their immune system is suppressed which can open the door to disease outbreaks and death.
Nutrifying bacteria in the biological filter convert the toxic ammonia into nitrite. Nitrite is then converted into nitrate. Nitrite causes the fish from having normal respiratory function. Nitrite is also needed in planted tanks to feed the plants. slower growing plants require less nitrites than faster growing plants. Nitrites can also be removed by water changes.
Hardness of the water (gh) is dependent on the measure of calcium and magnesium ion concentrations in water, Hard water is high in calcium and magnesium while soft water is low in these concentrations. Carbonate hardness (kh) is the measurement of carbonate and bicarbonate ion concentrations in water. Kh helps to stabilize the ph in aquariums. Aquariums with low levels of kh are considered acidic and are subject to rapid ph changes. Higher levels of kh create high ph levels. Aquariums with high levels are considered alkaline. when water evaporates the ions are left behind. these are the white powder type substance that is usually found along the rims of the tank. when adding water to compensate for the evaporation these ions need to be removed, if not they can increase the gh level in the aquarium. certain substrates and filter mediums can also help to stabilize ph and bring these levels up.
hth
maggie
