Healthy aquarium with conditions close to nature The right water values are dependent on the fish stock and the plants in the aquarium/pond. Even if the water looks clear it can be contaminated. With bad values diseases or algae can appear in the aquarium/pond. To maintain a healthy aquarium with conditions close to nature it is important to check and adapt the water values regularly. For each water analysis JBL provides water tests in the form of quick tests or colour change tests. These determine a certain value or several values in one go. With these water tests you can recognise algae problems and negative nitrate, nitrite, potassium, magnesium values etc. Why test? The degradation or mineralisation process of all organic substances in the aquarium and pond follows these stages: proteins > ammonium > nitrite > nitrate. By measuring these stages conclusions can be drawn about the “functioning” of the systems aquarium and pond. If the ammonium or nitrite level is too high it can lead to disturbances of the bacterial balance. Ammonium is not usually measurable in a maintained aquarium with an effective biological filter and in a correctly set up garden pond. Ammonium is an important plant nutrient and normally non-toxic for fish. But depending on the pH value ammonia, which is toxic for fish, can be formed from the ammonium ion.
