Is there a way to prevent ammonia OTHER than cleaning your tank?

Question

I still clean my tank but I just want to know

Answer 1

It's subject to the other tank members, but shrimp and snails are scavengers that eat the c**p that produces ammonia. You aren't preventing it, they need to toilet themselves, but you are adding an extra layer to the cycle and breaking up fish wastes more efficiently.

Answer 2

Don't over-stock your tank with too many fish, and don't over-feed.

I feed my fish once or twice a week, frozen and pellet food.

Also, if you clean the tank too frequently, it'll upset the balance and you might get an ammonia spike. The only chemicals you really need to rely on are a de-chlorinator [like Stress Coat], and some beneficial bacteria [like Cycle].

When you do your water changes [once a month], use a gravel siphon and only take out 1/3 to 1/2 of the water. Using the siphon gets a lot of the waste products that the filter doesn't suck up.  

Answer 3

I use a product called "Prime" and it works wonders for me! it removes and/or neutralizes bad stuff in the tank (specifically chlorine, chloramine, ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates). I put in a capful once a week when I do a water change and rarely have a problem with the levels.

I hope this helps!

Answer 4

don't get any fish sorry dude thats the only way there are products to help keep the ammonia in place if it is too high already but none that truly get rid of it water changes are a must

Answer 5

yep... green water is the solution.

no ammonia spike, no nitrite..

but also, no good view of your fish...

Answer 6

I'm not sure? sorry?

Answer 7

there ARE machines that remove ammonia from water, but they are massive, and cost well into the thousands of dollars.

so basically, no.

Answer 8

You should not have any ammonia (or nitrite) readings in your aquarium.

If you do, it is not fully cycled yet, and you need to continue doing partial water changes until the cycle is done.

Water changes after that point are done to keep your nitrates within healthy levels.

There IS one product experienced fish keepers will swear by that actually helps reduce your cycle time, and that is Bio-Spira.  I have used this product and had success with it each time, tho some times it takes longer, than other times.

I have been able to find this product at Pet Co. It would be in the fish food fridge.

If you mean "is there a product out there that will make it so I don't have to clean my tank?", my answer is "I wouldn't trust one that claimed to do that".

The only way I know of to create a self-sustaining system (meaning one that absorbs/uses your nitrates and therefore never needs water changes) is to have an abundance of plants that grow well.

This comes with it's own issues, tho, since the plants will need a CO2 injector and fertilizer and high lighting.

That said, having some moderate light plants (java ferns, java moss, water sprite, etc) in the tank will help absorb some of the nitrates, thus extending the time between water changes.  Reducing the feeding of the fish will help by reducing the production of nitrates. Most fish can get by fine being fed 2 or 3 times a week.

Answer 9

Ammonia is caused by the waste that fish produce when they digest their food.  If allowed to build up for a long period of time, it can prove fatal to a tank.

Cleaning is the best way to keep ammonia levels down, but there are products that "supposedly" eliminate ammonia from a tank without any harm to a fish.  I have used them successfully, but only when I ABSOLUTELY need to.  And I don't like doing it even then.

Another way to keep ammonia levels down is to introduce live plants into your tank environment.  Though not as effective as cleaning, it can help a little in between your weekly water changes.

Please refer to this site for more information on the ammonia cycle: