10 Steps to Correct Water Quality Spikes

How to correct Ammonia and Nitrite spikes

• 1. Water changes

  Start with 20-30% initially, repeat daily (between 10-20%) until values have dropped. Do not change 100% of the water in one go!

• 2. Stop feeding

  For major spikes, stop feeding all together.

  For mild spikes reducing the food ration or protein content may also be appropriate. Use water quality readings to guide you.

• 3. Assess the plumbing and mechanics of the filter

  Has a pump stopped working? Is the filter inlet blocked? Is the pipework patent?

• 4. Assess the filter media

  Does the media look normal? Is there a build-up in sludge? Have you got enough media?

  If there is a build-up in sludge, rinse this in old tank water.

• 5. Assess recent tank medications

  Anything capable of killing the biofilter?

  Some antibiotics, antibacterial and common anti-parasitic medications have the potential to kill the biofilter.

  Remove via water changes, activated carbon or bind excess medications using detoxifying/chelating agents.

• 6. Bind and detoxify

  Several liquid products are available that when added to the tank, bind and detoxify waste products like ammonia (handily they often bind nitrite, nitrates and various heavy metals).

• 7. Add ‘Good Bacteria’

  Add live cultures of nitrifying bacteria to your filter or tank to enhance the nitrogen cycle.

• 8. Add more filtration

  Can you add another filter? Or upsize the current filter?

• 9. Check and correct other water quality parameters

  Temperature, pH, KH and nitrates will all have a negative impact on the nitrogen cycle if outside of the normal parameters.

• 10. Reduce the number of fish in the tank via re-homing

  Sad outcome but the best option if you aren’t able to sustain a healthy, un-polluted environment for your fish using the steps above.

Check and correct other parameters such as temperature, pH, KH and nitrates

How to correct spikes in Nitrates

• 1. Increase the frequency of water routine changes

  Nitrates are the last step in the nitrogen cycle so water changes are the most effective way to get rid of excess nitrates.

• 2. Bind Nitrates at the source

  In certain areas of the country, tap water can contain >50mg/L of nitrates!

  Consider removing nitrates before adding to your pond/tank via the use of specialist binding agents, resins or filters.

• 3. Use an alternative water source

  The use of de-ionised water or reverse osmosis (RO) water can reduce levels on nitrates entering the tank.

• 4. Add more plants

  Plants utilise nitrates to grow, increasing the number of plants will decrease the levels of nitrates.

• 5. Water changes

  In the event of a big spike in nitrates, start with 20-30% initially, repeat daily (between 10-20%) until values have dropped.

  Do not change 100% of the water in one go!

• 6. Reduce feeding

  For major spikes, stop feeding all together. For mild spikes reducing the food ration may also be appropriate. Use water quality readings to guide you.

• 7. Reduce protein content in food

  The higher the protein content in the food, the more waste will be produced.

Plants utilise nitrates to grow, increasing the number of plants will decrease the levels of nitrates.