Managing Pond Ammonia Toxicity
- Enter your Total Ammonia (TAN) reading from your test kit.
- Enter the current Water pH value.
- Enter the Water Temperature in Celsius.
- Check the Un-ionized Ammonia (NH₃-N) result.
- Observe the Safety Scale to see if your levels are Safe, Stressful, or Lethal.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between TAN and NH3?
Total Ammonia Nitrogen (TAN) is the sum of both the ionized (NH4+) and un-ionized (NH3) forms. NH3 is highly toxic to fish, while NH4+ is relatively harmless. Our calculator helps you find the toxic NH3 fraction within your total TAN reading.
What is a safe level of NH3 in aquaculture?
Generally, un-ionized ammonia (NH3) should be kept below 0.02 mg/L for long-term fish health. Levels above 0.05 mg/L are considered stressful, and levels above 0.2-0.5 mg/L can be quickly lethal for many species.
How does pH affect ammonia toxicity?
As pH increases, the percentage of toxic NH3 in the water increases significantly. At a higher pH (alkaline), even a low TAN reading can result in lethal levels of NH3.
How can I reduce high ammonia levels quickly?
The most effective method is a significant water exchange (30-50%). Reducing feeding, increasing aeration, and lowering the pH (if safe for the species) can also help mitigate toxicity.
Key Benefits
- Identify toxic NH3 fraction in real-time
- Visual safety gauge with clear warnings
- Accounts for pH and temperature sensitivity
- Essential for tilapia, shrimp, and koi farmers
- No login required — 100% private data
- Mobile-optimized for quick field testing