⚠️ Ammonia Spike

Ammonia is the most toxic common compound in aquariums, produced by fish waste, decaying matter, and uneaten food. Even small amounts can stress fish, while high levels are rapidly fatal. An ammonia spike is an emergency requiring immediate action.

📋 Quick Facts

Toxicity	Lethal at levels above 1.0 ppm
Safe Level	0 ppm (undetectable)
Danger Level	Any detectable amount is concerning
Emergency Level	>0.5 ppm requires immediate action
Symptoms	Gasping, red gills, lethargy, death

🔍 Signs of Ammonia Poisoning

• Gasping at surface - Seeking oxygen
• Red or inflamed gills - Chemical burns
• Lethargy - Lying on bottom
• Loss of appetite - Stops eating
• Clamped fins - Signs of stress
• Erratic swimming - Darting, twitching
• Rapid death - Fish dying within hours

⚠️ Common Causes

• New tank syndrome - Uncycled or cycling tank
• Filter failure - Beneficial bacteria died
• Overfeeding - Excess food decays
• Overstocking - Too much waste produced
• Dead fish/snail - Decomposing in tank
• Medication killed bacteria - Antibiotics harm cycle
• Deep cleaning - Removing too much beneficial bacteria
• Filter media replaced - All bacteria removed at once
• Power outage - Bacteria die without oxygen

🚨 Emergency Response

Step 1: Large Water Change (Immediately)

• 50-75% water change NOW
• Use dechlorinator
• Temperature match the new water
• This is the single most important step

Step 2: Dose Ammonia Detoxifier

• Seachem Prime - Detoxifies ammonia for 24-48 hours
• API Ammo Lock - Similar function
• Dose for full tank volume
• Can dose up to 5x normal in emergencies
• Doesn't remove ammonia, makes it non-toxic temporarily

Step 3: Increase Aeration

• Add air stones
• Increase surface agitation
• Ammonia-stressed fish need more oxygen

Step 4: Stop Feeding

• No food for 24-48 hours
• Fish can survive days without food
• Food = more ammonia production

Step 5: Add Beneficial Bacteria

• Seachem Stability, API Quick Start, etc.
• Won't instantly fix but helps recovery
• Dose daily during crisis

📊 Ammonia Toxicity Levels

Level (ppm)	Severity	Action
0	Safe	None needed
0.25	Stress	25% water change, monitor
0.5	Dangerous	50% water change, Prime
1.0+	Emergency	75% water change, Prime, aeration
2.0+	Critical	Multiple large water changes, expect losses

⏱️ Recovery Timeline

Day	Action
1	Emergency water change, Prime, stop feeding
2	Test ammonia, another water change if needed
3-7	Daily testing, water changes to keep ammonia <0.25
7-14	Bacteria recovering, gradually resume feeding
14+	Should stabilize at 0 ammonia

🛡️ Prevention

• Cycle your tank - Never add fish to uncycled tank
• Don't overfeed - Only what fish eat in 2-3 minutes
• Don't overstock - Follow stocking guidelines
• Regular maintenance - Weekly water changes
• Keep Prime on hand - For emergencies
• Never replace all filter media at once
• Test water regularly - Catch problems early
• Remove dead animals quickly

❌ Common Mistakes

• Adding fish to uncycled tank
• Replacing all filter media at once
• Cleaning filter in tap water (chlorine kills bacteria)
• Not having Prime or similar product available
• Waiting to do water change
• Small water changes when large ones needed

📚 Summary

Ammonia spikes are emergencies that require immediate large water changes. Keep Seachem Prime or similar detoxifier on hand at all times. The key is acting fast - ammonia can kill fish within hours at high levels. After the emergency, focus on restoring the nitrogen cycle through bacteria supplements and careful maintenance. Prevention through proper cycling and maintenance is far easier than dealing with a crisis.