Nitrite
Posted by: GHarris in Fish Health, General Documents, Tank Maintneance, Tank Setup Add comments| Hot: |  |  | | | |
Nitrite is considerably more lethal to fish than its closely named nitrate. There is a common cycle to understand here. Ammonia is turned into nitrite and then nitrite is turned into nitrate. Once the bacteria in the tank has the ammonia under control, there will be a high nitrite spike and once that level is contained there will be a high nitrate spike. Nitrite is the cause of Nitrite poisoning or Brown Blood Disease that can happen in your fish. Basically your fish’s blood looses the ability to carry oxygen and it will suffocate. Having a very quick onset, nitrite can kill a fish within a few hours.
Controlling nitrite levels falls more on the lines of prevention although there are steps that can be taken to reduce the nitrite risk once the spike has occurred.
The first step in preventing a nitrite spike is to keep your tanks clean. Seeing how the decay of food and waste will raise the chemical levels in your tank, a clean tank will help prevent the rise of un-wanted chemicals.
The second preventative measure is to feed appropriately. A normal feeding is considered to be “only what your fish can eat in five minutes”. This will help in the prevention of food build up on the bottom of your tank.
A third recommended preventative measure is to test water regularly. When I first start a new tank, I usually test the water 2-3 times a day at least. This way I am aware of any changes in the tank and I can get ahead of the problem so to speak. Knowing the exact levels of the chemicals can save you major headaches in the future.
Prevention is the best method for dealing with a nitrite spike, but in case you do have a spike here are a few ways to deal with it.
First you can add salt to the tank. Even though it is a fresh water tank, the amount of salt that you add will not be enough to change the salinity level of the water. The amount that you add needs to be one half ounce per gallon of water. Salt will also help fish that have been injured in a fight to heal, and fish that have parasites to get better.
The second method for helping your fish survive a nitrite spike is to increase the oxygen level in the water. By turning up the aerator, the water will become saturated with oxygen and make it a little easier for the fish to breath.
A third recommendation is completing a large water change. A normal water change is around 10%. By completing a large water change (30-40%) you are removing some of the contaminated water and replacing it with water free of nitrites reducing the saturation or the poison. Prior to completing any large water change, make sure to give your fish the proper chemicals that they need to increase their slime coat. This will help them remain calm during this stressful time.