Certain common bacteria convert ammonia to a nontoxic form. Suspensions of these bacteria are available for application in ponds, however, additions of bacteria had no effect on ammonia conversion. Water exchange successfully removed ammonia but this method is not usually practical or economical because it is difficult to exchange a sufficient quantity of water. However, it may provide an area of tolerable water near the water supply. Algae remove large amounts of nitrogen from the water but the addition of phosphorus to pond water did not stimulate ammonia uptake.
Prevention is the best method of controlling ammonia build-up in ponds.
Using quality feeds, avoiding excessively high stocking or high feeding rates, and maintaining good conditions for algal growth help prevent the initial accumulation of ammonia in the water. The most significant release of pond effluents into the waterways occurs when ponds are drained during harvest. The act of seining has the effect of stirring up a lot of sediments which increases the pollution potential of the effluents. Researchers suggest the best way to minimize the pollution potential of aquaculture pond effluents is to harvest ponds as quickly as possible and to not drain the pond during or after seining. If the pond is drained after seining, this highly contaminated water should be discharged into a settling basin or retention pond.