ammo-lock 2 use in winter pond?

16 years ago

Hi - Does anyone know any reason/have any experience NOT TO ADD API's AMMO-LOCK 2 to a winter pond (water temp 34-35F) reading 0.5ppm Ammonia?

I have very successfully over-wintered fish in various ponds in this frigid winter climate for over 10 years, have not lost a single fish in 8 years (before that it was because the water was too warm!) For some reason I decided to test the ammonia today (never have before) and found it reading 0.5 ppm by API's Ammonia test kit (fresh reagents). Nitrite is 0, so the retarded biofilter is stuck converting ammonia to nitrite at this water temp - very cold! The pond is totally frozen over with ice several inches thick, gas exchange accomplished by an Allied Precision Pond-Breather, which is keeping oxygen saturation at 90+/-% at 2 feet below the ice (today it reads 10ppm with a temp/salinity/elevation-adjusted max of 11.6ppm, 86% saturation.) So there's theoretically plenty of oxygen for fish and biofilter - but they're all in hibernation!

I cannot change the water of a frozen pond, so adding AMMO-LOCK seems a reasonable alternative, unless anyone understands this is NOT a good idea to tie up the ammonia in a non-toxic form (which is what AMMO-LOCK does) at this temp. with at least 3 months of these temperature conditions prevailing yet ahead - maybe 5 months (i.e, it will be April or May before the biofilter has a chance of getting going again - let alone pumps and filters!)

Ammo-Lock is designed to let the conversion of ammonia to nitrite and then to nitrate proceed unhindered by the biofiliter, it just makes the ammonia non-toxic to the fish's gills, etc. (I don't understand exactly how.) So it is NOT an ammonia ABSORBER like chips, Ammo-Lock CONVERTS ammonia into a non-toxic form, yet to be converted by the biofilter (which obviously doesn't work at this water temp!) to non-toxic nitrate. I have also asked API by email. I look forward to learning something. Thanks for your insights - Ron

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Comments (3)

lsst
16 years ago
My concern would be the lack of aeration and circulation. The amno-lock temporarily lowers the oxygen level for about 24 hours.
I would contact the manufacturing company of Amno-Lock and ask them.
johnkr
16 years ago
Ron, I have been adding a filter bag containing AmmoCarb to my pond every winter. It contains a solid white material called zeolite that naturally absorbs ammonia. Zeolite can only absorb so much ammonia, so you will have to look at the packaging to determine how much you need. I purchase it at a local pet store in the aquarium section.

Zeolite can be recharged by soaking it in aquarium salt. Salt forces the zeolite to release ammonia it has absorbed. Thus it would not be a good idea to use zeolite in a pond that contains salt.
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comettose
16 years ago
Ammo lock will forever give you funny readings until it is out of the water via water changes.

How many fish do you have? How many gallons is your pond? If you have not lost fish in 8 years without the Ammo-Lock I would say you don't need it now. Avoid taking winter readings! LOL Your fish are not active so I would not worry about it.

IMO the best thing you can do before winter sets in is the following:

1. Clean the organic gunk out of the pond in the fall, including keeping out any newly fallen leaves.

2. Partial water change.

3. Keep a hole in the ice with deicer/bubbler/heater etc.

4. Reduce fish load if too heavy.

ammo-lock 2 use in winter pond?

Comments (3)

lsst

johnkr

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