Why Ammonia is toxic to your goldfish
Friday, February 19th, 2010Ammonia is a toxic and caustic chemical, which goldfish excrete directly into the water in their waste. Ammonia at any level creates an inhospitable environment for your goldfish, and high levels can cause death, so checking ammonia levels is an essential part of goldfish care. Physical symptoms of ammonia toxicity are clamped fins, excess slime, red fins; behavioral symptoms include isolation, hiding, and lying on the bottom of the tank. The best way to treat for the presence of ammonia in your tank’s water is a partial water change. If the ammonia level is very high (X), you will need to do an even larger water change, up to 80% to eliminate ammonia fro the tank. Prevention is easier than treatment. Overcrowding your tank is one of the most common ways to build unhealthy levels of ammonia. If you find that you frequently have ammonia present in your tank, get a larger tank or give some of your goldfish to a friend. It’s also important to do regular partial water changes of 20% to maintain a healthy tank environment.