To quantify the ammonia binding capacity, an in vitro trial was conducted in Malta. During this trial, five different levels of Excential AmmoSAN (0,1, 5, 10 and 20 g/L) were tested in water with 1, 2, 4 and 8 ppm ammonia. As mentioned before, all these levels are above the toxic levels for fish. Additionally, also the effect of having the product in a net sack instead of throwing the pellets directly into water was tested at the 5 g/l inclusion level. Results, as presented in figure 1, demonstrate that Excential AmmoSAN is able to remove a significant part of the ammonia from the water. Even at the highest tested ammonia level (8ppm), it can be observed that Excential AmmoSAN reduces the ammonia within 24h, indicating the quick and efficient capture of ammonia (Figure 2). The ammonia removal by Excential AmmoSAN was efficacious regardless of the ammonia level in the water.
In conclusion, trial results show that Excential AmmoSAN can be an efficient solution in sudden ammonia peaks, but also a powerful preventive tool to ensure good water quality for aquaculture systems.