Ammonia removal by selective ion exchange, a backup system for microbiological filters in closed-system aquaculture

Nitrification by biological filters in closed-system aquaculture is the primary method for removing ammonia from the culture water. This paper examines experimentally the process of selective ion exchange as an alternative to biological oxidation of ammonia. We propose that an inexpensive ion exchange column would be useful as a backup system to the microbiological filters, or as an alternate system used while treating diseased animals in culture so as not to harm the nitrifying bacteria of the main biological filters.