How to lower Nitrites in Fish Tank

The rise in nitrites is a necessary and normal part of starting the aquarium. If it is carried out when the fish are already present, there is a risk of acute mortality. We must then act quickly and well.

An aquarium installed with a good filter and many plants will probably never see a rise in nitrites but it is better to wait 15 days to 3 weeks before introducing the first fish.

In seawater, the rise in nitrites can last forever, but the fish are much more tolerant.

So How to lower Nitrites in Fish Tank?

What are nitrites?

They are produced during a stage of bacterial degradation of proteins (see nitrogen cycle ). In a balanced aquarium, the level of nitrites is practically zero because they are quickly transformed into nitrates. Nitrites are very toxic to fish and often fatal.

The causes of the rise in nitrites

• Mechanical problem with the filter.
• Excessive distribution of food (be careful during the holidays ).
• Too recent aquarium or too many introduced fish.
• Antibacterial treatment poorly conducted.

How to diagnose a nitrite problem?

Suspicion

• sudden mortality, whitish water, fish breathing quickly and with difficulty.

The confirmation

• With a nitrite / NO2 test. Be careful, in seawater, a rate of 0.1 mg / l is normal. This is due to the lack of specificity of the tests.

Pure water

• Normal: 0 mg / l.
• Tolerable: 0.2 mg / l.
• Toxic:> 0.5 mg / l.

Sea water

• Normal: 0.1 mg / l.
• Tolerable: <4 mg / l. Toxic:> 4 mg / l.

How to lower the nitrite level?

• By performing a major water change.
• By removing food for at least a week.
• By oxygenating to the maximum.
• By adding bacteria capable of transforming nitrites into nitrates.
• Repeat a water change every day if the nitrite level does not decrease.
• By filtering through activated carbon , if the cause is an antibacterial treatment.

How to prevent a rise in nitrites

• By seeding new aquariums with bacteria.
• By postponing the installation of the aquarium from the introduction of fish (15 days minimum).
• By carrying out a series of nitrite tests before introducing the fish.
• By carrying out a population in successive stages.
• By feeding properly and sparingly.
• By removing food during antibacterial treatment.
• By also cleaning the mechanical part of the filter each time the biological part is changed.

Source article: How to lower Nitrites in Fish Tank

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