Goldfish Pond Water Test: Nitrogen Cycle
What is the Nitrogen Cycle:
Of all ingredients in Earth’s atmosphere, nitrogen makes up about 79 percent of it. You will also find nitrogen in the DNA, RNA and proteins, the building blocks of life, in all living organisms; which makes the nitrogen cycle a requirement for sustaining any life on Earth.
In layman terms: your goldfish eats an aquatic plant and breaks down the plant’s proteins; the goldfish’s waste contains ammonia (NH3) gets absorbed into the soil, where aerobic bacteria convert it into nitrite (NO2) and then into nitrate (NO3); the aquatic plants in your goldfish pond absorb the nitrates as food and help the aquatic plant grow; your goldfish again eats the plant and the nitrogen cycle continues.
It’s these beneficial bacteria that act as a filter and happen naturally that you want to have in your goldfish pond. Without them, ammonia levels in the water will build and if they reach .025mg/liter it will potentially kill your goldfish. This is more common In a new goldfish pond that doesn’t have establish beneficial bacteria yet so it’s important test the levels of ammonia, nitrites and nitrates.
Ammonia Test
Go to your local pet store or pond specialist and pick up an ammonia test kit. You have two options for ammonia test kits: strips that you can place directly into the water or a kit that uses solution drops. The strips work faster and are convenient but are not as accurate as the ones that use solution drops.
Many ammonia test kits will have two charts, one for freshwater and one for saltwater; make sure you know which is which. Read the instruction and add the proper amount of water and the proper amount of drops from the solution bottle that came with the ammonia test kit. Wait the required amount of time and then use a white background to place your water sample directly next to the test chart. A white background makes it easier on your eyes to determine what color your tested water is and helps you compare it more accurately to the test chart.
Typically Ammonia level readings are indicated in parts per million (ppm) and will range from 0-8 on the chart. Ammonia readings above 0 indicate a problem.
Nitrite Test
Nitrite kits are only useful in the very beginning of building your goldfish pond where the biological cycle has yet come full circle. Most ammonia test kits will tell you all that you need to know about your goldfish pond’s nitrogen cycle. Nitrite levels above 0.5 ppm indicates a problem and your goldfish will become distressed; levels above 10ppm can be lethal to your goldfish.
Nitrate Test
High levels of nitrate can lead to excessive algae growth and green water in your goldfish pond. Nitrates can build up over time so testing for nitrates monthly is recommended. Depending on the species, nitrate levels of 50ppm or more can be toxic.
Learn how you can manage your goldfish pond’s nitrogen cycle Adjust Goldfish Pond Water: Nitrogen Cycle
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