Anti-ammonia

Anti-Ammonia

The Anti-Ammonia category includes methods and media dedicated to eliminating or transforming ammonia (NH₃/NH₄⁺), which is toxic even in trace amounts, to protect fish and invertebrates.

Operating Principles

• Nitrifying Biofiltration: fixed bed filters or biological reactors that promote Nitrosomonas bacteria to convert ammonia into nitrite and then nitrate.
• Natural or Synthetic Zeolite: porous mineral support that strongly adsorbs ammonium (NH₄⁺) and releases few other ions.
• Marine Activated Carbon: broad-spectrum adsorbent media capable of trapping some ammonia and organic amine compounds.
• Chemo-biological Products: mixes (BactoBlend, Ammonia Removal) combining enzymes and specialized bacteria for accelerated breakdown.

Advantages

• Maximum Safety: maintaining NH₃/NH₄⁺ close to 0 mg/L to prevent any stress or intoxication.
• Complete Conversion: biofiltration ensuring the conversion NH₃ → NO₂⁻ → NO₃⁻ without toxic accumulation.
• Rapid Action: zeolite and special products allowing significant reduction in a few hours.
• Ease of Integration: media usable in external filter, reactor, or decantation basket.

Usage Recommendations

• Install 200–300 g of zeolite per 100 L of volume in a flow reactor or filter basket, renew every 4–6 weeks.
• Set up a fixed bed nitrifying filter (bioreactor) with a flow rate of 5–10 mL/min per 100 L of volume.
• Add a stick of marine activated carbon (Carb L) into the circuit to trap amines and organic matter.
• In case of an ammonia spike, use a chemo-biological treatment (BactoBlend) according to the recommended doses, in addition to biofiltration.
• Monitor NH₃/NH₄⁺ levels daily (aquarium test or digital checkers) and adjust the media until reaching 0 mg/L.