AMMONIA

1. Sources

In aquaria and ponds the principal sources of ammonia are:

• Excretion by fish and other livestock as a normal part of their metabolism
• The breakdown of protein in uneaten food or dead livestock that remains undetected.

It is therefore of great importance that careful cleaning is undertaken at suitable
intervals.

2. Chemistry
As ammonia is released into the water by either of these processes it may take one of two
forms:

• Free Ammonia (unionised ammonia, chemical symbol NH3). This form of ammonia is
  highly toxic to fish
• Ammonium (ionised ammonia, chemical symbol NH4+).This form of ammonia is