FA-16

Ammonia1
Ruth Francis-Floyd and Craig Watson2
Ammonia is a major metabolic waste product from fish. It is excreted across the gill membranes and in the urine. The primary source of ammonia in aquaculture systems is fish feed. When feed is eaten by fish it is metabolized into the energy, nutrients, and proteins used for survival and growth. As with all animals, there is waste produced by these normal metabolic processes. Ammonia is the principal waste product excreted by fish. In trace amounts, ammonia is odorless and colorless, so the only way for an aquaculturist to know if it is there is to test the water. Of all the water quality parameters which affect fish, ammonia is the most important after oxygen, especially in intensive systems. In small amounts, ammonia causes stress and gill damage. Fish exposed to low levels of ammonia over time are more susceptible to bacterial infections, have poor growth and will not tolerate routine handling as well as they should. Ammonia is a killer when present in higher concentrations, and many unexplained production losses have been caused by ammonia. In water, ammonia occurs in two forms, which together are called the Total Ammonia Nitrogen, or TAN. Chemically, these two forms are represented as NH 4+ and NH3. NH4+ is called Ionized Ammonia because it has a positive electrical charge, and NH3 is called Unionized Ammonia since it has no charge. This is important to know, since NH3, unionized ammonia (abbreviated as UIA), is the form which is toxic to fish. Water temperature and pH will effect which form of ammonia is predominant at any given time in an aquatic system.

The Nitrogen Cycle

In aquaculture, a mechanism called The Nitrogen Cycle eliminates ammonia from the water. As ammonia is excreted, it is converted to another compound called Nitrite (NO2). Nitrite is also toxic to fish and is discussed in a separate publication. This change from ammonia to nitrite is accomplished by bacteria called Nitrosomonas. Another group of bacteria, called Nitrobactcr, convert nitrite to Nitrate (NO3). Nitrate is not toxic to fish except at extremely high levels, and can be considered harmless. Nitrate is used by plants, including algae, for food. This constant change from ammonia to nitrite to nitrate is called the nitrogen cycle (Figure 1). In ponds this process takes place in the surface layers of the mud, but in tanks or aquaria, a special place has to be provided for the bacteria to live and flourish. This is called a biological filter, or biofilter. For further information on biofilters, see Florida Cooperative Service Extension publication FA-12, Principles of Water Recirculation and Filtration in Aquaculture.

1. 2.

This document is FA-16, one of a series of the Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Publication date: May 1990. Revised: June 1996. Please visit the FAIRS Web site at http://hammock.ifas.ufl.edu. Ruth Francis-Floyd, Extension Veterenarian, Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences; Craig Watson,Coordinator-Research Programs/Services, Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, 32611.

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function without regard to race, color, sex, age, handicap, or national origin. For information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension Service office. Florida Cooperative Extension Service / Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences / University of Florida / Christine Taylor Waddill, Dean

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should be kept for all tests, and whenever ammonia is found, the frequency of testing should be increased until the problem is corrected. Whenever fish are sick, test the water quality. Ammonia is responsible for more unexplained losses in aquaculture than any other water quality parameter. As mentioned, it is colorless and odorless, so the only way to know if it is present is to test for it. Fish submitted to a diagnostic laboratory are tested for diseases (bacteria, parasites, fungi or viruses) only. It is the producers responsibility to test the water quality, which can easily be the underlying problem.

Interpreting the Ammonia Test

In healthy ponds and tanks, ammonia levels should always be ZERO. Presence of ammonia is an indication that something in the system is out of balance. Therefore, ANY ammonia in a pond or tank should alert the producer to start corrective measures. However, it is only the unionized ammonia (UIA) which is toxic to fish. This toxicity begins as low as 0.05 mg/l, so the result of the TAN test needs to be further tested to find the actual concentration of UIA. To do this, the temperature and pH need to be measured. Once the pH and temperature are known, one can determine the fraction of UIA present from Table 1. Find the temperature on the top, and the pH on the left. The number taken from the table is multiplied by the TAN to give the UIA in mg/l (ppm). This calculation is summarized in Figure 2, and an example is given in Figure 3. Anytime that the UIA is higher than 0.05 mg/l, the fish are being damaged. As the concentration rises above 0.05 mg/l it causes more and more damage, and at 2.0 mg/l fish will die. Again, ANY ammonia is indicative of a problem in the system, and corrective measures should be taken by the producer.

Figure 1. The nitrogen cycle. Nitrifying bacteria utilize oxygen to convert ammonia and nitrite into the nontoxic byproduct, nitrate, which is then used by plants or returned to the atmosphere.

One important point to mention about the nitrogen cycle, is that both groups of nitrifying bacteria need oxygen to function. If oxygen levels are not sufficient, the process can break down, and you will start seeing levels of ammonia and nitrite rise in the system.

Ammonia Testing
Everyone involved in aquaculture should invest in a water quality test kit. A good water quality management program will result in fewer fish disease problems, better growth and less use of chemical treatments. The cost of a water quality test kit will pay for itself many times over, both in numbers of fish saved, and increased production. Most commercial ammonia test kits measure the Total Ammonia Nitrogen (TAN). As mentioned before, it is the fraction of the TAN which is in the unionized ammonia (UIA) form which is toxic. This fraction can be determined from the TAN, if you also test the temperature and pH of the water. At high temperatures and high pH, there is more UIA. Therefore, a good ammonia test kit would include a TAN test, a pH test, and a thermometer.

Management of an Ammonia Problem

Since the major source of ammonia is fish feed, the first thing to do when ammonia is present is to reduce or eliminate feeding. Fish are not likely to eat during periods of ammonia stress and the uneaten feed will only make the situation worse. Overfeeding is a major cause of ammonia problems, and stopping the feeding

When Should Ammonia Be Tested?

Ammonia should be tested every 10 to 14 days in ponds, and at least once a week in tanks. If the tanks are using a common biofilter (i.e. a recirculating system), you won't need to check every tank individually. Records
June 1996

Ammonia
Figure 2. Step-by-step guide to calculating unionized (toxic) ammonia. UIA of 0.05 mg/L may harm fish. As UIA approaches 2.0 mg/L, fish will begin to die. Step 1 Use a water test kit to measure ammonia. The number from the kit is the TAN (Total Ammonia Nitrogen) Measure water temperature. Measure water pH.

Page 3
Figure 3. An example of how to calculate UIA using the factors in Table 1. Step 1Assume TAN was 1.0 mg/l. (measured with test kit) Step 2 Water temperature was 75
F (24
C) Step 3 Water pH was 8.0 Step 4 The multiplication factor from Table 1 is 0.0502 (this is where the pH in the left hand column intersects the temperature listed across the top of the chart) Step 5 TAN X factor from Table 1 = UIA (1.0 X 0.502) Interpretation - The toxic ammonia present (UIA) is 0.0502 mg/l. This is at the borderline, but is high enough to cause some gill damage. If this is allowed to increase, the fish will be under considerable stress.

Step 2 Step 3

Step 4 Find the multiplication factor in Table 1 using the water temperature and pH. Step 5 Multiply the TAN (step 1) and the factor from Table 1 (step 4). The answer is the Unionized Ammonia Nitrogen (UIA) in mg/L. If the number is larger than 0.05, the ammonia is harming the fish.

will allow the natural nitrogen cycle to "catch up" with the nutrient load. If at all possible, a 25% to 50% water change will help to remove some of the ammonia. This is only feasible in small ponds or tanks, so don't try to solve an ammonia problem in a large pond by this method. In ponds, phosphate fertilizer may help to relieve high TAN levels over a period of days by stimulating plant growth which helps remove ammonia from the system. Use a 0-20-0 fertilizer at a rate of 40 pounds per acre. This may not help fast enough in an acute ammonia crisis. If phosphate is not limited in the pond, this method will not be effective at all. In tanks without a biofilter, the producer should consider incorporating one.

Commercial test kits only measure the Total Ammonia Nitrogen (TAN). When this test is positive, producers can determine the fraction of toxic unionized ammonia (UIA) if the pH and temperature are also measured. This information is found in Table 1, and an example calculation is found in Figure 3. When ammonia is present, the system should not be fed until the problem is corrected. In small systems a water change will help, and in large ponds a 0-20-0 fertilizer may help. By testing for ammonia on a regular basis, most ammonia problems can be minimized, since corrective measures can be taken before fish start to die. Once fish have started to die, it is difficult to correct an ammonia problem without losing more fish.

Summary
Ammonia is a colorless, odorless substance which can accumulate in aquaculture systems and cause direct mortalities, a decrease in production, and may be the underlying cause of many diseases. The only way to detect its presence is by testing for it, and a fish farmer should not only invest in a water quality test kit, but learn to use it on a regular basis.

June 1996

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Table 1. Fraction of unionized ammonia in aqueous solution at different pH values and temperatures. Calculated from data in Emmerson, et al. (1975). To calculate the amount of unlonized ammonia present, the Total Ammonia Nitrogen (TAN) must be multiplied by the appropriate factor selected from this chart using the pH and temperature from your water sample. See the example in Figure 3.

Temperature

46.4

50.0

53.6

57.2

60.8

64.4

68.0

71.6

75.2

78.8

82.4

86.0

89.6

pH 10 .0018 .002 2 .003 4 .005 4 .008 6 .013 5 .021 2 .033 2 .038 5 .044 5 .024 7 .028 6 .033 0 .051 4 .015 7 .018 2 .021 1 .010 0 .011 6 .013 4 .0155 .006 3 .007 3 .008 5 .0098 .0114 .004 0 .004 6 .005 4 .0062 .0072 .0083 .002 5 .002 9 .003 4 .0039 .0046 .0052 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 .0060

42.0 (F
)

6 (C
)

28 .0069

30 .0080

32 .0093

7.0

.0013

.0016

7.2

.0021

.0025

.0029

.0096

.0110

.0126

.0150

7.4

.0034

.0040

.0046

.0131

.0150

.0173

.0198

.0236

7.6

.0053

.0063

.0073

.0179

.0206

.0236

.0271

.0310

.0369

7.8

.0084

.0099

.0116

.0244

.0281

.0322

.0370

.0423

.0482

.0572

8.0

.0133

.0156

.0182

.0381

.0438

.0502

.0574

.0654

.0743

.0877

8.2

.0210

.0245

.0286

.0590

.0676

.0772

.0880

.0998

.1129

.1322

June 1996

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Table 1. Fraction of unionized ammonia in aqueous solution at different pH values and temperatures. Calculated from data in Emmerson, et al. (1975). To calculate the amount of unlonized ammonia present, the Total Ammonia Nitrogen (TAN) must be multiplied by the appropriate factor selected from this chart using the pH and temperature from your water sample. See the example in Figure 3.

Temperature .0445 .051 7 .079 5 .091 4 .104 8 .119 7 .1361 .1541 .1737 .1950 .059 7 .068 8 .079 0 .0904 .1031 .1171 .1326 .1495 .1678 .1948

8.4

.0328

.0383

8.6

.0510

.0593

.0688

.2178

.2422

.2768

8.8

.0785

.0909

.1048

.120 4 .178 2 .255 8 .286 1 .318 0 .351 2 .3855 .4204 .201 8 .227 3 .254 6 .2836 .3140

.137 6

.156 6

.177 3

.1998

.2241

.2500

.2774

.3062

.3362

.3776

9.0

.1190

.1368

.1565

.3456

.3783

.4116

.4453

.4902

9.2

.1763

.2008

.2273

.4557

.4909

.5258

.5599

.6038

June 1996

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Table 1. Fraction of unionized ammonia in aqueous solution at different pH values and temperatures. Calculated from data in Emmerson, et al. (1975). To calculate the amount of unlonized ammonia present, the Total Ammonia Nitrogen (TAN) must be multiplied by the appropriate factor selected from this chart using the pH and temperature from your water sample. See the example in Figure 3.

Temperature .3180 .352 6 .463 3 .7140 .7428 .7692 .501 6 .539 4 .576 2 .6117 .6456 .6777 .7078 .388 4 .424 9 .461 8 .4985 .5348 .5702 .6045 .6373 .6685 .7072

9.4

.2533

.2847

9.6

.3496

.3868

.4249

.7358

.7617

.7929

.4600

.5000

.5394

.7933

.8153

.8351

.8585

9.8 .6498 .684 4 .774 6 .800 3 .823 4 .844 1 .8625 .8788 .716 6 .746 3 .773 5 .7983 .8207

.577 8 .8408

.614 7

.649 9

.683 1

10. 0 .7463

.5745

.6131

.8588

8749.

.8892

.9058

10. 2

.6815

.7152

.8933

.9060

.9173

.9271

.9389

June 1996