Ammonia in the Aquarium Ammonia is a common and very toxic waste product in aquariums. Aquarium fish continuously release ammonia. Urine, solid waste and uneaten fish food also release ammonia as they decompose. Nitrifying bacteria in the biological filter convert toxic ammonia to nitrite (also toxic) and then to relatively harmless nitrate. This process is called the nitrogen cycle. Newly set-up aquariums do not have enough nitrifying bacteria to keep ammonia at safe levels. It can take 4 to 6 weeks for the nitrifying bacteria to become established and form an efficient biological filter. It is during these first weeks that most aquarists experience fish loss due to high ammonia levels. Elevated ammonia levels damage the gills of fish, preventing oxygen uptake. Even very low levels of ammonia can cause detrimental metabolic changes, leading to a greater susceptibility to disease. Even in established aquariums, ammonia can be a problem. Each time a new fish is added to an aquarium, the biological filter must adjust to the higher level of waste being produced. When medications and remedies are used, the biological filter is often disrupted. Under these conditions, ammonia can reach harmful levels. Zeolite Ammonia Remover is a very efficient medium for completely removing ammonia waste and greatly improving water quality for freshwater aquarium fish. DIRECTIONS FOR USE IN RENA® FilStar FILTERS: 1. Remove Zeolite Ammonia Remover pouch from plastic bag.
2. DO NOT open Zeolite Ammonia Remover pouch. One 350 g pouch should be used for every 55 U.S. gallons (208 L) of aquarium water. 3. It is important to rinse Zeolite Ammonia Remover pouch under tap water to remove any dust. 4. Place filter pouch directly in FilStar filtration basket after (above) filter foams. 5. Recharge filter pouch every 5 days until safe levels are reached. Then, recharge every 2 weeks to maintain best performance.
6. Replace pouch every 1 to 3 months, depending on stocking density and water quality.
