Ammonia source, Ammonia management and harmful effect of ammonia on Fish pond

Ammonia 

Ammonia in water basically stayed in two form unionized Ammonia (NH₃) and Ammonium ion (NH₄ ). Unionized ammonia is very much lethal and predominated when P^H is high. In pond environment P^H  up and down due to photosynthesis and respiration by pond organisms. Waste nutrients concentration from feed and feases promote dense phutoplankton. During day time in the presence of sunlight phytoplankton produce their own food by photosynthesis process. Day time CO2 is being low and due to rapid photosynthesis , removal of Carbon dioxide ( CO₂) converted to carbonate ( CO₃) and bi carbonate (H₂CO₃) and pH become high but at night time when CO2 is high it converted to carbonic acid ( H₂CO₃) and  pH become low. So there is a relation between pH and plankton.

When ammonia rise in pond, fish can not extract energy from feed effectively. Ultimately fish going to comma and result in death.

 Source of Ammonia gas: 

Ammonia source

Ø  Fish excreta

Ø  Nitrification

Ø  Plankton crash.

Ø Feed wastage

Ø Poor Decomposition of organic matter produce ammonia

Symptoms to detect NH₃ affected pond:

The only way you can detect ammonia is to use a proper test kit. So check your water weekly for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH, and check again if your fish look unwell or are acting unusually.       

   

     The signs of ammonia stress on fish:

        Ø Lethargy

        Ø Loss of appetite

        Ø Hovering at the bottom of the tank (especially for surface dwelling fish)

        Ø  Gasping at the surface

        Ø Inflamed gills

        Ø Red streaks or inflammation in the gills

        Ø  Inflamed eyes or anus

  

        Easy technique to control ammonia:

Ø  Regulate feeding rate.

Ø  Water exchange

Ø  Add organic fertilizer.

Ø  Culture phytoplankton because algal uptake huge amount of ammonia.

Others NH₃ reduction technique by Probiotic:
When ammonia rise in pond bottom we use different types of probiotic which enrich by genera of Bacillus sp.  The few species of this type of bacteria can convert ammonia into free nitrogen under anaerobic condition.
Ø Gasonex ( Fishtec product) 3-4 mg decimal highly effective.

Ø  CaCO₃ (25kg/Acre) + Sand. After 1 day then 1 Super PS dose. Because its oxidize pond bottom.

OR

      Ø  Zeolite 70 kg/Acre.

      Ø   Supper PS (Photosynthetic sulfur bacteria) -------- Early stage 2 L/Acre and middle stage 4 L/Acre. Because Super PS oxidized pond bottom.

OR

      Ø  Sodium Chloride 100 kg/ Acre.

      Ø  Chain dragging.

Hydrogen sulfide gas peoblem