BELAJAR TENTANG ANALISIS MENGENAI DAMPAK LINGKUNGAN HIDUP

(AMDAL) TENTANG BEBERAPA PARAMETER YANG MEMPENGARUHI

KUALITAS AIR DARI ASUPAN PAKAN KEGIATAN BUDIDAYA PERIKANAN AIR TAWAR
DAN ASUPAN KANDUNGAN ORGANIK DALAM AIR LIMBAH
PADA BADAN AIR
Inspirasi dari kutipan ilmiah yang dituangkan ke dalam suatu kreasi, disusun
dan digunakan sebagai referensi pribadi untuk mendukung kegiatan kerja di kantor. Semoga bermanfaat

OLEH :
HELMUT

TODO TUA SIMAMORA

BADAN LINGKUNGAN HIDUP, PENELITIAN DAN PENGEMBANGAN

KABUPATEN SAMOSIR PROVINSI SUMATERA UTARA

PENGUKURAN KANDUNGAN NITRAT

How is Nitrate measured?

A common method for nitrate measurement is Method 353.2.

Samples are run through a cadmium column to reduce nitrate to

nitrite. Nitrites react with an added reagent and generate a red
coloured solution whose absorbance is then measured
spectrophotometrically at 543 nm. The absorbance of the solution
is directly proportional to the concentration of nitrite in the
sample. Another method used for the detection of nitrate in water
is the nitrate electrode method. This method operates in a similar
fashion to a dissolved oxygen meter, where an electric potential of
a solution is correlated to the concentration of nitrates in mg/L.
Nitrate concentrations can be reported as mg/L NO 3 or as mg/L
nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N).

PENGARUH NITRAT
Why is Nitrate important?
Nitrogen is a major nutrient for microbial life and is therefore very

important with regards to its effects on the environment. Among

nitrogen containing compounds, nitrate is the most common form in
water. All other dissolved forms of nitrogen (nitrite, ammonia and
organic nitrogen) get oxidized to nitrate over time. Nitrates are found
in both ground and surface water, originating from the natural
decaying process of biological matter. Many anthropogenic sources
also contribute to nitrate levels in the environment such as industrial
and municipal wastewater discharge and agricultural runoff containing
nitrogen based fertilizers and livestock manure. Nitrate has a high
solubility in water and will not be filtered out like other contaminants
as it seeps through the soil layers to groundwater level. Measurement
of nitrate is important for several applications.

KANDUNGAN NITRAT DALAM LIMBAH

In the drinking water industry, maximum contaminant levels of 50

mg/L NO3 in the EU and 10 mg/L NO 3-N in the USA have been
established for public safety. When nitrate enters the bloodstream
of humans they reduce the ability of red blood cells to carry oxygen,
which has serious health effects. This is particularly important for
infants under the age of 6 months where excessive levels of nitrates
in their bloodstream leads to a health condition known as
methemoglobinemia or blue baby syndrome. Thus, measuring
and removing nitrate from drinking water are important.
Wastewater contains high amounts of nitrates from human sewage
and industrial process waste. Monitoring nitrate in wastewater is
important to ensure proper removal prior to discharging into the
environment.

PEMANTAUAN LEVEL KANDUNGAN NITRAT

From an environmental perspective, monitoring nitrate levels in surface

water can indicate the potential for eutrophication or nutrient pollution.

The influx of nutrients to surface waters can cause accelerated algal growth.
When the large algae blooms die out, bacterial action increases expending
oxygen levels. Waters may become hypoxic or anoxic, causing stress and
possible death of aquatic life. Monitoring nitrate input to surface waters not
only protects the health of the water body, but the safety of those who rely
on the source.
Measuring Nitrate with UV-VIS technology
Measuring nitrates and or/nitrites with UV-VIS technology is a practical and
reagentless solution for real-time monitoring. Nitrate ions have natural
absorbance peaks in the 200-220 nm wavelength range in the UV spectrum.
As the concentration of nitrates in water or wastewater increases, the
absorbance of light in this distinct wavelength range will also increase.

Common interferences with nitrate measurement at 220 nm, such as

organic compounds, nitrite, iron (II), hexavalent chromium and turbidity

or suspended solids are compensated for by measuring absorbance at
additional reference wavelengths in the UV-VIS spectrum where the
interfering compounds absorb, but nitrates do not. This multiple
wavelength approach ensures a high degree of precision and accuracy.
Where is Nitrate measured?
Influent of a drinking water plant from a ground or surface water source
After blending of multiple sources to determine reduction
Effluent drinking water for compliance assurance
Pre and post ion exchange or reverse osmosis for removal efficiency
In process for nitrogen removal from wastewater
Environmental monitoring stations for contamination events or locating
source pollution

 Nitrate test strips are an affordable tool for quickly measuring nitrate (NO 3) in

soil and water, and can help farmers and crop advisers adjust fertilizer inputs to
match the nitrogen (N) needs of various types of crops. There are now a variety
of brands of nitrate test strips available, many of which are manufactured for
testing the quality of aquarium water, but may also be suitable for soil testing.
All of the brands of test strips are used in a similar fashion: the strip is briefly
dipped into an extractant solution (for soil) or in water, and allowed to develop
color during a standard interval of time, usually ranging between 30 and 60
seconds. After color develops on the strip, a color chart, calibrated to either
parts per million (ppm) of NO3 or expressed in ppm equivalents of nitrogen
(NO3-N), is used to determine the NO3 concentration of the sample. Multiplying
Nitrate-N concentration by a factor of 4.43 converts the reading to
NO3 concentration. Because the strips may continue to develop color with time,
it is important to always read the strips at a standard time interval, or the
measurements will not be accurate or repeatable. More detailed information
on using the nitrate test strips for monitoring soil nitrate levels was presented
in several of our past bulletins, newsletters, and blogs.

KANDUNGAN NUTRISI DALAM TANAH

Depending on the soil type and crop nutrient requirements, vegetable

farmers need test strips that are accurate for soil NO 3-N concentrations
ranging between from 5 to 30 ppm, which would roughly correspond to a
range of 10 to 60 ppm of NO3 in the nitrate quick test extract solution. For
strawberry production, and other crops that have a slower N uptake rate
than vegetables, growers need test strips that are accurate over a narrower
range of soil NO3 concentrations (5 to 15 ppm NO3-N in soil). Past studies
have demonstrated that the Merckoquant test strip are accurate for
measuring soil NO3-N in the range of 10 to 40 ppm. Because more brands
of test strips have become commercially available in recent years with
varying ranges of sensitivity, and the need to identify test strips that are
accurate for measuring low concentrations of soil NO 3-N (0 to 15 ppm), we
evaluated the accuracy and ease of using six commercially available brands
of test strips over a range of nitrate concentrations found in commercial
agricultural fields.

PROSEDUR
Procedures:
A stock solution of a known NO 3 concentration was prepared by dissolving a measured

weight of sodium nitrate (NaNO3) into 1 liter of distilled water. This stock solution was
further dilluted with distilled water to standard nitrate concentrations that matched the
values of the color chips of the various test strips evaluated in this study. The
NO3 concentration of each standard solution was confirmed by spectrophotometric
analysis.
Each brand of strip was evaluated at NO 3 concentrations corresponding to the color
chips provided by the manufacturer. The Hach Aquacheck and Lamotte Instatest
NO3/NO2 strips differed from the other brands because the color chips were calibrated
in equivalents of NO3-N rather than NO3. For convenience of displaying and
comparing the data, results for these two brands were converted to NO 3 (by multiplying
the NO3-N values by 4.43). The Merckoquant NO3/NO2 test strip was the brand
originally tested by UC Cooperative Extension for use with the soil nitrate quick test,
and was considered the standard in this evaluation. This strip measures to a maximum
of 500 ppm NO3, but was only evaluated up to 250 ppm NO 3 (56 ppm NO3-N) for this
test.

 Each brand of test strip was evaluated 4 times for each standard

NO3 solution corresponding to the manufacturer's chip color

chart. The procedure that we followed to determine
NO3 concentration was to dip the strip briefly in solution, and
hold it horizontally after removing it, allowing color to develop
for the interval specified by the manufacturer. Most strip
manufacturers recommended a 1-minute time interval between
wetting and reading the strip color.

The manufacturer for API 5-in-1 and LaMotte Instatest 5-Way

recommended reading test strips after 30 seconds, but results

appeared to be more accurate after a 60 second interval, therefore
all results reported for these strips are from readings taken 60
seconds after placing the strip in the test solution. After waiting the
specified interval, the color of the test strip was compared to the
color chips provided by the manufacturer. If the test strip color
matched one of the chips, then the value of the chip was recorded. In
many cases, the color of the test strip was between 2 of the standard
chips, and in these cases an estimate was made based on comparing
the intensity of the color development with the 2 closest matching
chips. Because this method relies on visual observations, all tests
were made in a room with ample lighting and by one observer.

HASIL
Results:
The mean NO3 values measured using different brands of test

strips were compared to the standard solution values in Table 1.

Some brands of test strips appeared to be accurate at specific
ranges of NO3 concentration. The Merckoquant NO3/NO2 brand
was the most accurate for the full range of NO3 concentrations
(Table 1). The next most accurate brand over the entire range of
NO3concentrations evaluated was the LaMotte Instatest
NO3/NO2.

The Hach Aquacheck was accurate for the range of 10 to 90 ppm NO 3 but

measured NO3 lower than the standard solutions at concentrations above 100
ppm NO3. The remaining brands of test strips, LaMotte Instatest 5-way, API
5 in 1, Tetra 6 in 1 Easystrips, all measured less NO 3 than the standard
solutions over the range of 20 to 200 ppm NO 3. These strip brands should
probably not be used for the soil nitrate quick test and for assessing nitrate
concentration in irrigation water.
Although the LaMotte Instatest NO 3/NO2 also had good accuracy across the
range of 20 ppm to 220 ppm NO3, it did not have a standard color chip for
evaluating NO3 at low concentrations, and therefore may not be suitable for
strawberries and other crops where soil nitrate is typically in the 5 to 15 ppm
NO3-N range. Both the Merckoquant and Hach brands were accurate for
measuring NO3at low concentrations (10 to 40 ppm). Although the Hach
Aquacheck strip had a color standard of 5 ppm NO 3, the strip was not able to
measure NO3 at a concentration below 10 ppm (Table 1).

TABEL KLASIFIKASI KONSENTRASI NITRAT

Table 1. Comparison of nitrate-test strip and standard solution values.

TABEL PROPORSI TOKSIK

TABEL FLUKTUASI pH

AMONIA
Ammonia is toxic to fish if allowed to accumulate in fish

production systems. When ammonia accumulates to toxic

levels, fish can not extract energy from feed efficiently.
If the ammonia concentration gets high enough, the fish
will become lethargic and eventually fall into a coma and
die. In properly managed fish ponds, ammonia seldom
accumulates to lethal concentrations. However, ammonia
can have so-called sublethal effectssuch as reduced
growth, poor feed conversion, and reduced disease
resistanceat concentrations that are lower than lethal
concentrations.

PENGARUH pH
Effects of pH and temperature on ammonia toxicity Ammonia in water

is either unionized ammonia (NH3) or the ammonium ion (NH4+).

The techniques used to measure ammonia provide a value that is the
sum of both forms. The value is reported as total ammonia or simply
ammonia. (In this publication, ammonia refers to the sum of both
forms; the specific forms will be referred to as appropriate.)
The relative proportion of the two forms present in water is mainly
affected by pH. Un-ionized ammonia is the toxic form and
predominates when pH is high.
Ammonium ion is relatively nontoxic and predominates when pH is
low. In general, less than 10% of ammonia is in the toxic form when pH
is less than 8.0. However, this proportion increases dramatically as pH
increases.

The proportion of toxic, un-ionized ammonia increases

as a function of pH and temperature. To determine the

proportion of un-ionized ammonia in a water sample,
draw a line from the pH of the water straight up to the
line that is closest to the water temperature. From that
point, draw a line to the right until it intersects the
graphs vertical axis. That point is an estimate of the
percentage of un-ionized ammonia in the water
sample. Now, simply multiply that number (divided by
100) by the total ammonia concentration to estimate
the un-ionized ammonia concentration.

In ponds, pH fluctuates with the photosynthesis (which increases pH) and

respiration (which reduces pH) of pond organisms.

Therefore, the toxic form of ammonia predominates during the late afternoon and
early evening and ammonium predominates from before sunrise through early
morning. The equilibrium between NH3 and NH4+ is also affected by
temperature. At any given pH, more toxic ammonia is present in warmer water
than in cooler water.
Ammonia dynamics in fish ponds The measurement of ammonia concentration
(and that of many other water quality variables) provides only a snapshot of
conditions at the time a water sample is collected. A single measurement provides
no insight into the processes that affect ammonia concentrations; it is simply the
net result of processes that produce ammonia and processes that remove or
transform ammonia.
The relationships among these processes are complex, but the important point is
that the rates change differentially throughout the year and result in the measured
patterns.

Ammonia sources The main source of ammonia in fish ponds is fish

excretion. The rate at which fish excrete ammonia is directly related to

the feeding rate and the protein level in feed. As dietary protein is
broken down in the body, some of the nitrogen is used to form protein
(including muscle), some is used for energy, and some is excreted
through the gills as ammonia. Thus, protein in feed is the ultimate
source of most ammonia in ponds where fish are fed.
Another main source of ammonia in fish ponds is diffusion from the
sediment. Large quantities of organic matter are produced by algae or
added to ponds as feed.
Fecal solids excreted by fish and dead algae settle to the pond bottom,
where they decompose. The decomposition of this organic matter
produces ammonia, which diffuses from the sediment into the water
column.

 Ammonia sinks There are two main processes that result in the loss or

transformation of ammonia. The most important is the uptake of

ammonia by algae and other plants. Plants use the nitrogen as a
nutrient for growth, packaging the nitrogen in an organic form. Algal
photosynthesis acts like a sponge for ammonia, so anything that
increases overall algal growth will increase ammonia uptake. Such
factors include sufficient light, warm temperature, abundant nutrient
supply, and (to a point) algal density.

The other important process of ammonia transformation in

fish ponds is nitrification. Bacteria oxidize ammonia in a

two-step process, first to nitrite (NO2-) and then to nitrate
(NO3 -). The main factors that affect nitrification rate are
ammonia concentration, temperature and dissolved oxygen
concentration. During summer, ammonia concentration is
very low and so nitrification rates are also very low. During
winter, low temperature suppresses microbial activity.
During spring and fall, ammonia concentration and
temperature are intermediate, conditions that favor
maximum nitrification rates. Spring and fall peaks of nitrite
concentration are commonly seen in fish ponds.

The effect of daily fluctuation in pH on un-ionized ammonia concentration

in fish ponds. The top horizontal line indicates a total ammonia

concentration of 2.5 mg N/L, which is assumed not to change during the
day. The two curved lines indicate daily changes in un-ionized ammonia
concentration where the maximum afternoon pH is 9.0 or 9.5. These
conditions indicate that fish may be exposed to toxic, un-ionized ammonia
concentrations for brief periods during the late afternoon.
Other processes, such as the volatilization of ammonia gas from the pond
surface into the air, are responsible for a relatively small and variable
amount of ammonia loss from fish ponds.
When is ammonia most likely to be a problem? In fish ponds, it is extremely
unlikely that un-ionized ammonia would accumulate to a concentration that
would become toxic enough to kill fish. However, unionized ammonia will
occasionally accumulate to levels that cause sub-lethal effects.

The following analysis is based on water quality criteria for

ammonia developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency (EPA).
The EPA has established three kinds of criteria (one acute
and two chronic) for ammonia (expressed as nitrogen), based
on the duration of exposure. The acute criterion is a 1-hour
average exposure concentration and is a function of pH. One
chronic criterion is the 30-day average concentration and is a
function of pH and temperature. The other chronic criterion
is the highest 4-day average within the 30-day period and is
calculated as 2.5 times the 30-day chronic criterion. The EPA
criteria help determine when ammonia might be a problem.

PENGARUH MUSIM
During winter It is generally assumed that ammonia is not a problem in

the winter because feeding rates are very low. (Fish are fed on only the
warmest days of winter, usually when the water temperature is higher
than 50 F.) However, ammonia concentration tends to be greater
during winter (2.5 to 4.0 mg/L, or even higher) than during summer
(less than 0.5 mg/L) (Fig. 3). The relatively low concentration during
summer can be attributed to intense photosynthesis by algae, which
removes ammonia. During winter, algae take up little ammonia but the
ammonia supply continues, primarily from the decomposition of
organic matter that accumulated on pond sediment during the growing
season. In general, the magnitude and duration of high ammonia
concentrations during the late fall and winter can be related to the total
amount of feed added to a pond during the preceding growing season.

The 30-day chronic criterion for ammonia (as nitrogen) in

winter ranges from about 1.5 to 3.0 mg/L, depending on pH.

Ammonia concentrations during the winter usually exceed this
criterion. This may cause stress in fish at a time of year when the
fish immune system is suppressed because of low temperature.
After the crash of an algae bloom Some ponds have very dense
algae blooms dominated by one or two species. For reasons that
are not well understood, these blooms are subject to spectacular
collapse, often called a crash, where all the algae suddenly die.
When this occurs, ammonia concentration increases rapidly
because the main mechanism for ammonia removalalgal
uptakehas been eliminated.

Rapid decomposition of dead algae reduces the

dissolved oxygen concentration and pH and increases

ammonia and carbon dioxide concentrations.After the
crash of an algae bloom, ammonia concentration can
increase to 6 to 8 mg/L and the pH can decline to 7.8
to 8.0. The 4-day chronic criterion, the appropriate
criterion to apply. Approximate annual variation of
total ammonia concentration in fish ponds. Ammonia
concentration is generally lowest during summer and
highest during winter.

following the crash of an algae bloom, ranges from about 2.0 mg/L at pH

8.0 to about 3.0 mg/L at pH 7.8. Therefore, ammonia concentration after

the crash of an algae bloom may exceed the 4-day chronic criterion.
Occasionally during the late afternoons in late summer or early fall
Seasonal variation in ammonia concentration depends on algal density
and photosynthesis. When these are high, ammonia concentration is low.
Daily variation in the concentration of toxic, un-ionized ammonia
depends on changes in pH (from photosynthesis) and, to a much lesser
extent, temperature. In the late summer or early fall, ammonia
concentration begins to increase but daily changes in pH remain large. In
these situations, fish may be exposed to ammonia concentrations that
exceed the acute criterion for a few hours each day. If late afternoon pH
is about 9.0, the acute criterion is about 1.5 to 2.0 mg/L total ammonianitrogen.

Total

ammonia-nitrogen concentrations during

summer are typically less than 0.5 mg/L, so fish are
unlikely to be stressed if the late afternoon pH is less
than 9.0. It is difficult to be more precise about the
risk of ammonia toxicity because of deficiencies in
the methodology used in research.
Nearly all ammonia toxicity tests are conducted in
systems that maintain a constant ammonia
concentration. These conditions do not reflect the
fluctuating concentrations of NH3 in ponds.

Accordingly, one must be careful when applying research results to

production situations. For example, in one study, growth of channel

catfish exposed to a constant ammonia concentration of 0.52 mg/L NH3
was reduced by 50% relative to unexposed fish.
However, brief (2- to 3-hour) daily exposure to 0.92 mg/L NH3 (such as
might occur in ponds) did not affect growth and feed conversion ratio.
The fact that many fish can acclimate to repeated exposure to high
concentrations of un-ionized ammonia is a further complicating factor.
Ammonia management options On rare occasions ammonia
concentration becomes high enough to cause problems. What practical
steps can be taken if this occurs? The short answer isnot much.
Theoretically, there are several ways to reduce ammonia concentration,
but most approaches are impractical for the large ponds used in
commercial aquaculture.

Following is a discussion of some options, their practicality and their

effectiveness. Stop feeding or reduce feeding rate The primary source of nearly all
the ammonia in fish ponds is the protein in feed. When feed protein is completely
broken down (metabolized), ammonia is produced within the fish and excreted
through the gills into pond water. Therefore, it seems reasonable to conclude that
ammonia levels in ponds can be controlled by manipulating feeding rate or feed
protein level. This is true to some extent, but it depends on whether you want to
control it over the short-run (days) or the long-run (weeks or months). In the
short-run, sharp reductions in feeding rate have little immediate effect on
ammonia concentration.
The ecological reason for this is based on the complex movement of large
amounts of nitrogen from one of the many components of the pond ecosystem to
another.
In essence, trying to reduce ammonia levels by withholding feed can be
compared with trying to stop a fully loaded freight train running at top speedit
can be done but it takes a long time.

Producers can reduce the risk over the long-run by adjusting both feeding

rate and feed protein level. Limit feed to the amount that will be consumed.
In midsummer the maximum daily feeding rate should be 100 to 125 pounds
per acre. By feeding conservatively, the potential for high ammonia in ponds
and the risks associated with sub-lethal exposure (disease, poor feed
conversion, slow growth) can be minimized.
Increase aeration The toxic form of ammonia (NH3) is a dissolved gas, so
some producers believe pond aeration is one way to get rid of ammonia
because it accelerates the diffusion of ammonia gas from pond water to the
air. However, research has demonstrated that aeration is ineffective at
reducing ammonia concentration because the volume of water affected by
aerators is quite small in comparison with the total pond volume and
because the concentration of ammonia gas in water is typically fairly low
(especially in the morning). Intensive aeration may actually increase
ammonia concentration because it suspends pond sediments.

 Add lime It has long been thought that liming ponds decreases

ammonia concentrations. In fact, using liming agents such as hydrated

lime or quick lime could actually make a potentially bad situation much
worse by causing an abrupt and large increase in pH. Increasing pH
shifts ammonia toward the form that is toxic to fish. In addition, the
calcium in lime can react with soluble phosphorus, removing it from
water and making it unavailable to algae.
In ponds with similar algal density, daily fluctuations of pH in low
alkalinity pond waters are more extreme than those in waters of
sufficient alkalinity (greater than 20 mg/L as CaCO3; see SRAC
Publication No. 464). Therefore, liming can moderate extreme pH
values, particularly those that occur during late afternoon when the
fraction of total ammonia that is in the toxic form is highest.

However, this technique is effective only in ponds with low alkalinity. Most

fish ponds have sufficient alkalinity. Increasing the alkalinity above 20 mg/L
as CaCO3 will not provide additional benefit. Furthermore, liming does not
address the root causes of high ammonia concentration; it only shifts the
distribution of ammonia from the toxic to the non-toxic form by moderating
high pH in the afternoon. Fertilize with phosphorus Most of the ammonia
excreted by fish is taken up by algae, so anything that increases algal growth
will increase ammonia uptake. This fact is the basis for the idea of fertilizing
ponds with phosphorus fertilizer to reduce ammonia levels. However, under
normal pond conditions, algae blooms in fish ponds are very dense and the
rate of algae growth is limited by the availability of light, not nutrients such
as phosphorus or nitrogen.
Therefore, adding phosphorus does nothing to reduce ammonia
concentration because algae are already growing as fast as possible under
the prevailing conditions.

 The highest ammonia concentrations in fish ponds occur after the crash

of an algae bloom. Fertilization, particularly with phosphorus, may

accelerate the re-establishment of the bloom, but most ponds have
plenty of dissolved phosphorus (and other nutrients) to support a
bloom and do not need more.
Reduce pond depth Algal growth (and therefore the rate of ammonia
uptake by algae) in fish ponds is limited by the availability of light.
Anything that increases light increases ammonia uptake. Theoretically,
dense algae blooms in shallow ponds will remove ammonia more
effectively than the same dense blooms in deeper ponds. On balance,
however, there are probably more benefits associated with deeper
ponds (e.g., ease of fish harvest, water conservation, more stable
temperatures, reduced effect of sedimentation on interval between
renovations).

Increase

pond depth Obviously, deeper ponds

contain more water than more shallow ponds.
Therefore, at a given feeding rate, deeper ponds
should have lower ammonia concentrations because
there is more water to dilute the ammonia excreted
by fish. In reality, deeper ponds do not usually have
enough water to significantly dilute ammonia when
compared to the large amounts of ammonia in
constant flux between various biotic and abiotic
compartments in ponds.

Furthermore, deeper ponds are more likely to stratify and the

lower layer of pond water (the hypolimnion) can become enriched

with ammonia and depleted of dissolved oxygen.
When this layer of water mixes with surface water in a turnover,
severe water quality problems may result. Flush the pond with well
water Ammonia can be flushed from ponds, although pumping the
huge volume of water required to do so in large commercial ponds
is costly, time-consuming and unnecessarily wasteful. It is also
deceptively ineffective as an ammonia management tool. For
example, assume the ammonia concentration in a full, 10-acre
pond is 1 mg/L. The ammonia concentration after pumping 500
gpm continuously for 3 days (equivalent to about 8 inches of water)
will be 0.90 mg/L, a drop of only 0.10 mg/L.

Instead of simply running water through a pond as in

the example above, now assume that about 8 inches

of water is discharged from the pond before refilling
with well water. In this case, the decline in ammonia
concentration will be slightly greater (to 0.83 mg/L),
but even this decrease is not enough in an emergency
situation, particularly when the extra time needed to
drain the water before refilling is considered. The
difference in the two flushing scenarios is related to
the blending of pond water with pumped water before
discharge in the first case.

Just as paddlewheel aeration creates a zone of sufficient dissolved oxygen

concentration, pumping groundwater creates a zone of relatively low ammonia

concentration adjacent to the water inflow.
The effectiveness of this practice is questionable because it does not address
the root cause of the problem and wastes water. Flushing ponds is not only
ineffective, but highly undesirable because of concerns about releasing pond
effluents into the environment.
Add bacterial amendments Common aquatic bacteria are an essential part of
the constant cycling of ammonia in a pond ecosystem. Some people believe
that ammonia accumulates in ponds because the wrong kind or insufficient
numbers of bacteria are present. If this were true, adding concentrated
formulations of bacteria would address the problem. However, research with
many brands of bacterial amendments has consistently given the same result:
Water quality is unaffected by the addition of these supplements.

Standard pond management creates very favorable conditions for bacterial

growth. Bacterial growth and activity is limited more by the availability of

oxygen and by temperature than by the number of bacterial cells. Also, the
most abundant type of bacteria in many amendments (and in pond water
and sediment) is responsible for the decomposition of organic matter.
Therefore, if bacterial amendments accelerate the decomposition of organic
matter, ammonia concentration would actually increase, not decrease.
Another kind of bacteria in amendments oxidizes ammonia to nitrate.
Adding them will not reduce the ammonia concentration rapidly because
the bacteria must grow for several weeks before there is a large enough
population to affect ammonia level.
Add a source of organic carbon If the dissolved oxygen concentration is
adequate, adding a source of organic carbon, such as chopped hay, to
intensive fish ponds can reduce ammonia concentration.

Many bacteria in fish ponds are starved for organic carbon, despite the

addition of large amounts of feed. Organic matter in fish ponds (dead

algae cells, fish fecal solids, uneaten feed) does not contain the optimum
ratio of nutrients for bacterial growth. There is more than enough
nitrogen for bacterial growth so the excess is released to the pond water.
Adding organic matter with a high concentration of carbon relative to
nitrogen promotes the fixation or immobilization of the ammonia
dissolved in water. Incorporating ammonia into bacterial cells packages
the nitrogen into a particulate form that is not toxic to fish. The down
side of this approach is that it is hard to apply large amounts of organic
matter to large ponds and the effect on ammonia concentration is not
rapid. Furthermore, aeration will have to be increased to address the
demand for oxygen by large quantities of decomposing organic matter.

 Add ion exchange materials

Certain naturally occurring materials, called zeolites, can adsorb

ammonia from water. These are practical to use in aquaria or other

small-scale, intensive fish-holding systems, but impractical for
largevolume fish ponds.
Some shrimp farmers in Southeast Asia have tried making monthly
applications of zeolite at 200 to 400 pounds per acre. However,
research has demonstrated that this practice is ineffective at reducing
ammonia concentration in ponds and it has now been abandoned.
Add acid In theory, adding acid (such as hydrochloric acid) to water
will reduce pH. This can shift the ammonia equilibrium to favor the
non-toxic form. However, a large amount of acid is necessary to reduce
the pH in well-buffered ponds and it would have to be mixed rapidly
throughout the pond to prevent hot spots that could kill fish.
Furthermore, adding acid would destroy much of the buffering capacity
(alkalinity) of the pond before any change

 in pH could occur. Once the ammonia concentration is lowered, treated

ponds might require liming to restore the buffering capacity. Working

with strong mineral acids is a safety hazard for farm workers and for
fish.
How often should ammonia be measured?
From the foregoing discussion, you might assume that measuring
ammonia in ponds is unnecessary.
After all, research has indicated that brief daily exposure to ammonia
concentrations far higher than those measured in commercial ponds
does not affect fish growth. And, on the rare occasions when ammonia
does become a problem, there is nothing you can do about it. However,
there are some special circumstances when it is worthwhile to monitor
ammonia levels.

 In the South, ammonia concentrations in most ponds usually start

increasing in September and peak about mid-October, about 5 to 6

weeks after the last stretch of high feeding rates. Then, about 2 to 4
weeks later, nitrite concentrations peak. This is a general pattern. It
does not apply to all ponds, and ammonia or nitrite problems can
occur with variable intensity at any time, especially between
September and March.
Thus, the magnitude of the ammonia elevation in the early fall can
indicate the severity of the nitrite spike that will follow. Salt can
protect fish against nitrite toxicosis (see SRAC Publication No. 462).
If enough salt is added to ponds to achieve chloride levels of 100 to
150 mg/L, there is no reason to measure ammonia even as a
predictor of high nitrite concentrations.

Ammonia should be measured every other day after the

crash of an algae bloom and weekly in the cooler months of

the year to identify ponds that may have a potential
problem with nitrite. Other than those times, it is probably
not necessary to measure ammonia in fish ponds.
To summarize, fish producers should not be alarmed if
ammonia concentration becomes elevated, although a high
ammonia level often indicates that nitrite concentrations
may soon rise. In this case, farmers should focus on
protecting fish from nitrite poisoning by adding salt, rather
than on trying to manage the ammonia problem.

Extra vigilance after an algae crash is also probably

warranted. Usually, the concentration of ammonia will fall

again once the bloom becomes re-established. Because
there is little that can be done to correct problems with
ammonia once they occur, the key to ammonia
management is to use fish culture practices that minimize
the likelihood of such problems.
This means stocking fish at a reasonable density,
harvesting as often as practical to keep the standing crop
from being too large, and using good feeding practices that
maximize the proportion of the feed consumed by fish.

NITRAT
Nitrate in Ponds
Nitrate, NO3-N,
Nitrate is the final product from the breakdown of ammonia released

by the fish.
Nitrate is not especially harmful to freshwater fish but is a potent plant
fertilizer and can contribute to the growth of unsightly and unwelcome
algae, such as green water or blanketweed. Ideally, the levels of nitrate
in the fish pond should be controlled to help reduce the likelihood of
these unwelcome algae blooms occurring. It is recommended that a
Nitrate Test Kit is used to determine the quantity present in the pond
and control the concentration through water changes.

Nitrite in Ponds
As the ammonia in the water begins to reduce, the secondary break down

product, nitrite will begin to increase and this is also very poisonous to fish.
Nitrite is a skin irritant and will cause the fish to display symptoms of
irritability such as rubbing themselves, jumping, or even skimming across
the surface of the pond. These symptoms are also commonly associated with
parasites and it is sensible to eliminate nitrite as the cause before treating
the pond.
Nitrite also has a rather sinister effect on the pond fishes blood, as it will
bind very tightly with the red pigment and thereby preventing the blood cells
from absorbing vital oxygen from the water. Once the nitrite has become
associated with the red pigment, it turns the blood a dull brown color and
hence the popular name for nitrite poisoning is "brown blood disease".

A second group of micro-organisms, comprising mostly species of

Nitrobacter bacteria are responsible for breaking down the nitrite

into nitrate, which is the final breakdown product but in the event of
high nitrite levels occurring in the pond, regular partial water
changes need to be undertaken to reduce the concentration of this
pollutant.
Nitrite is an odorless, colorless substance and its presence can be
detected using a Test Kit

Terima Kasih

Thank
You

Dedicated to :
1. My loving wife , Hutapea Olga Y.V, dr;
2. My loving daughter :
a. Simamora Michelle Renata Robertina;
b. Simamora Helga Martha Davina;
Also :
3. Environment, Research and Development Agency of Samosir Regency Government
of North Sumatera Province;
2. People of Samosir Regency
3. All of You
Alumni :
PSMIL Universitas Padjadjaran
at Bandung