Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

My science fair project is about which way is the best to remove high levels of ammonia from a little fish bowl.l am going to use algae eaters, plants, and ammonia detox and see which one reduces the ammonia more quickly. I need to know if I could add any way which could reduce ammonia more efficiently. I have alot of time to do this project but I need to know if I could improve it ASAP. Thank you.

Hi,

You have an interesting and useful project as any person who has raised fish in an aquarium knows. I think plants including algae are the best removers of ammonia compounds. Algae-eating fish and snails can be used to keep the algae population in check and some fish will eat plants. What you are looking for is a balance so that all the waste from the animals is utilized by the plants and the water stays clean.

You probably already know about the test kits that you can buy to determine ammonia levels in aquarium water. That will be your readout--the dependent variable. What are you going to vary in the aquarium--the type or number of plants? Whether or not you have snails or algae-eaters? Remember that light is important for the plants to photosynthesize and use the nutrients in the water so you will have to have the same type of lamp over each bowl.

I can't think of any other ways to reduce ammonia. Plants are best, I think, because they are natural and also produce oxygen for the fish to breathe. Without plants the waste products and ammonia can build up pretty quickly and injure the fish.

I hope this helps. Repost with more questions on the details and we will try to help you set up the experiments.

Good luck!

Sybee