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In certain instances, such as reef tanks, essential amino acids can cause these tests to show a lower nitrite level than what is actually occurring in your tank.įortunately, there are nitrite tests available that get around this issue. However, like many nitrite test kits, this one has a shortcoming. If you purchased the API Master Test Kit, then you will already have this test kit, along with many others. For the average hobbyist, these are fine. API nitrite test kits are cheap, and they work well enough. API test kits can be found almost anywhere. If you walk into your local fish store, this will likely be the nitrite test kit that they keep on the shelf. When it comes to measuring your nitrite levels, an aquarium test kit is the simplest and cheapest way to do it. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most popular nitrite testers on the market. Nitrite testers are readily available at pet shops, fish stores and even online.
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The bacteria responsible for turning ammonia into nitrites rapidly multiply because their food source has become bigger – releasing more nitrites than your tank can handle.Īs you may have noticed, most of the causes of high nitrite levels can be fixed with good housekeeping and regular maintenance. This entire process is referred to as nitrite poisoning.įishLab Fact: A sudden jump in nitrite levels is called a nitrite spike.Īlso, if there is a sharp rise in ammonia levels, a sharp rise in nitrites will soon follow. What’s interesting is that it doesn’t matter how oxygenated your aquarium is, your fish can still suffocate.Īn aquarium with all the aquarium bubblers and surface agitation in the world isn’t going to help your fish if they cannot draw oxygen out of the water. So, I am sure you know what happens if your fish take in too many nitrites, right? Oxygen is kind of a big deal because your fish need it to live. The more nitrites that are taken in by your fish, the less oxygen the blood can carry. When the nitrites reach the fish’s blood stream, they stop the blood from carrying oxygen. Once nitrite levels exceed zero, they are going to be absorbed by your fish – they have no choice in the matter. What happens if your aquarium nitrite levels are too high? So if you are cycling a new tank, expect high levels of nitrites. This is actually a big part of why you need to cycle your aquarium – to allow the bacteria that live in your biological filter, which break down nitrites, to grow. In a new tank, bacteria doesn’t exist in large enough numbers to break down the nitrites as they are produced. However, there is an obvious exception to this rule… If your nitrite levels are higher than zero, you need to find the cause of the problem, and fast. The bacteria in an established tank should exist in high enough numbers to break down nitrites the moment they are produced – leading to a zero reading when tested. So, in a stocked tank, the level should read 0 ppm (parts per million). The acceptable level of nitrites in your tank is… What nitrite levels are acceptable in your aquarium? The process of ammonia being converted into nitrites by bacteria is called nitrification. So, nitrites wouldn’t exist without ammonia. A second bacteria, called nitrobacter, then feeds on the nitrites and produces nitrates. A bacteria called nitrosomonas breaks down the ammonia into nitrites.ģ. As waste breaks down, it gives off ammonia.Ģ. To explain, here is a very brief recap of the nitrogen cycle.ġ. While waste leads to the appearance of nitrites, it is not the defining cause. How nitrites end up in your aquarium is quite a journey.Ĭommon sources of waste found in aquariums include: Pronounced nigh-trights, nitrites (NO2) are a form of dissolved nitrogen that occur naturally in the water column, which is the water inside your aquarium.
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What are aquarium nitrites and where do they come from?