How to Lower Ammonia in an Aquarium

Hello Fellow Fish Keepers,

I wanted to take a few minutes to talk about the nitrogen cycle, and discuss how to eliminate ammonia from a fish tank. If you have any other good advice about lower ammonia levels feel free to share in the comments section below.

The Nitrogen Cycle in Detail:

For the latest in the fish room check us out on Instagram primetime_aquatics

Thanks for watching!

[PrimeTimeAquatics]

Here is more information about water parameters. Definitely worth a look if you are trying to learn all you can about the subject!

[amo_res]

Ugh, this tank cycle is just harder than taking care of a dog

[karlgrant]

Been watching your channel for over a Year! Never really comment. Plants Helps with this people. Put live plants in.

[PalJoey-rmyh]

1) Vacuum the gravel, 2) change half the water using a chlorine remover, 3) add a Poly Filter pad (Poly Bio Marine) to the power filter or merely hang it in a water circulating area of the tank.

[empathysgone]

Finally someone who knows and can explain their stuff! Thank you.

[jlathem]

Great tip.

The best advice I was ever given is, "patience". Let your cycle not only start but let your tank season for several weeks after the cycle has been established.

[sarge]

Also, when you do a water change...clean your plants. Even if you have plecos, sometimes that's not enough. And vacuum the gravel/sand as the poop and uneaten food will seep into the substrate causing ammonia build-up.

[growinginportland]

I made this mistake first time out. Lost all my fish. Let your tank get cycled properly before adding fish.

[bonnitaclaus]

I only have three tanks. 29 gal, 20 gal, 10 gal.
My 10 gallon is my nursery tank or Isolation tank. Yesterday, when I did a water change I grabbed an empty milk bottle, instead of a water bottle. I put a small amount of milk in my 20 gallon tank, before I realized I had the wrong bottle. I had to move approximately 15 inches of fish into my 10 gallon tank. I cleaned my 20 gallon. Are use 5 gals from my isolation tank. I also washed the gravel. I reset up my tank, and I put immediately my fish back in. That evening I fed my fish. This morning, my tank is cloudy. After watching your video I checked for food. I have an excess amount of food floating around. This is the problem. I am undergoing chemo therapy, and my brain is not functioning fully. I appreciate your video. I also had a new rock formation that I built. I took it out because I believe I may have used rocks that are not compatible. I will be testing later today. From my experience, that I remember, sometimes there’s more than one causes for a problem.

I have used for cloudy tank bottled spring water, for a 20% water change. I remember I used to boil water 50 years ago.

I took filter from my 29 gallon and the filter from my 10 gallon and put it in my sick tank. I cannot use salt with my fish. I also have an under gravel filter with three power heads. Under gravel filter is more for the plants.

Thank you for your video.

[prcdguyaustralia]

Hold off on feeding for several days an reduce the amount you are feeding an even the amount of times you feed them in a day.

[matthewjackson]

i dont know we have to be a scientist to be a fish keeper :(

[cats]

How you explain everything is very helpful. You have helped save my fish, failing tank, and have been oh so helpful. Thank you :)

[sarahcoolbanana]

Thank you so much! I'm getting a tank soon and doing as much research as i possibly can. thank you!!!!

[kinglyzard]

Another thing that temporarily will detoxify NH4, nitrites is a product called Prime.
If you're not sure about your used media source, you can buy starter bacteria from any fish outlet. I dump right into the intake side of my hanging back filter and let'em rip. Instantly starts the cycling process, and cuts NH4 and nitrites.

[gigiberlogea]

Tetra safestart saved me... and seachem prime... zero ammonia in a day or two never had ammonia since...

[josemontalvo]

You should do weekly water changes. I do 20% water changes every week to an up and running aquarium. When you cycling a tank, you should change your water every couple of days until all the bad stuff is minimal. Slowly add Snails and Catfish you kick in the cycle of the tank. I also add Carbon to my filter at that time too. I remove the carbon until it gets established. After that, I put mechanical and biological media in my filter. I put plenty of plants, one because it’s beneficial and two because they are beautiful.

[tramany]

Water changes and add SEACHEM SAFE every time you do the water changes works like a charm

[Starssapphire]

I wish i knew about this channel before i started keeping fish -ammonia is plaguing me atm, and i didnt know about biomedia till yesterday actually - i thought my information was good considering the vendor i went to...
subbed

[craigvgodsman]

I appreciate your expertise as I am in the process of getting ready to set up a 150 gal tank so all of this information is extremely helpful.

[moonchild]

I know i am commenting on a year old post, but i am brand new to all of this. Having lost a betta last year that was given to me as a gift, and yestserday a year old mystery snail, i really need to learn much more. My tank is just 5 gallons, i test strip it and do water changes and unfortunately adding too much cuttle bone and not knowing to remove it...added a sulphur smell and this made things even worse. So i will now try only ONE tiny nerite snail...nothing more...some aquatic plants, he has rocks/hiding spaces already and he'll have lots and lots of attention. I wanted 2 but realize one nerite per 5 G is best. I am really enjoying all of your videos and making tons of notes...Thank you from Canada.