I have recently read on a few sites that nitrite is harmless to fish.
Has anybody read any such thing or have any comment on this?
Has anybody read any such thing or have any comment on this?
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So,Nitrite isn't deadly to fish anymore?
- Thread starter stingythingy45
- Start date
Jennifer
Moody and emotional slob
I thought there was conclusive evidence that Nitrites would kill a fish. I have never wanted to test this myself. Everything I ever read either freshwater or salt said that Nitrites were not good to have in your tank.
That being said recently I was asked by a friend to help him figure out what was wrong with his tank. With test kits in tow I went to his house and tested everything in his tank. His Nitrites were at 2.0 ppm and Nitrates were at 60ppm , 1ppm ammonia. He has a lunare wrasse, large snowflake eel, diadema urchins, tomato clown, and some damsels. The tank was a disaster but the fish did not seem to be any worse for wear.
Had me scratching my head. Maybe Nitrites are not as harmful as we once thought.
That being said recently I was asked by a friend to help him figure out what was wrong with his tank. With test kits in tow I went to his house and tested everything in his tank. His Nitrites were at 2.0 ppm and Nitrates were at 60ppm , 1ppm ammonia. He has a lunare wrasse, large snowflake eel, diadema urchins, tomato clown, and some damsels. The tank was a disaster but the fish did not seem to be any worse for wear.
Had me scratching my head. Maybe Nitrites are not as harmful as we once thought.
OP
OP
John,
It was definitely Nitrite.I read this on RC.
Sounded like some pretty knowledgeable people talking about this.
I'll see if I can find a link.I've also seen this on another site as well.
*Here's the link to one article.This is someone that we are familiar with here.
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-06/rhf/index.php
Also seen it on other threads.Brought it up cause I'm having some show up now in a uncycled QT tank.
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Actually that is correct.
Chloride is the antidote of Nitrite and there are extremely high concentration of Chloride (such as sodium chloride, aka salt) in saltwater, hence the reduced toxicity of Nitrite to marine fish.
In freshwater keeping, people add salt to reduce Nitrite toxicity for tanks that have not yet complete cycling.
Chloride is the antidote of Nitrite and there are extremely high concentration of Chloride (such as sodium chloride, aka salt) in saltwater, hence the reduced toxicity of Nitrite to marine fish.
In freshwater keeping, people add salt to reduce Nitrite toxicity for tanks that have not yet complete cycling.
Because nitrite is not toxic in marine systems, it is never necessary or even useful to measure nitrite, unless you do it for fun. 
OP
OP
So would it be wrong to assume that after the ammonia level drops in a tank that's cycling it's safe for fish?
Right now I have some fish in QT.They're in what was an uncycled tank with just a filter/pad/media I borrowed from a cycled tank,heater and PVC.
My ammonia level began to rise drastically the first few days.I staved this off with water changes,Amequel and poly pads.(It's been close to 4 weeks now).The ammonia has dropped and the Nitrite is close to 5 ppm.
I've done some pretty big water changes and the nitrite is still high.
But amazingly the fish look great.I'm glad I found your article Randy.
It definitely put my mind at rest and saved a lot of salt mix.
Thanks......
Right now I have some fish in QT.They're in what was an uncycled tank with just a filter/pad/media I borrowed from a cycled tank,heater and PVC.
My ammonia level began to rise drastically the first few days.I staved this off with water changes,Amequel and poly pads.(It's been close to 4 weeks now).The ammonia has dropped and the Nitrite is close to 5 ppm.
I've done some pretty big water changes and the nitrite is still high.
But amazingly the fish look great.I'm glad I found your article Randy.
It definitely put my mind at rest and saved a lot of salt mix.
Thanks......
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Yes, I believe that once ammonia is down it is safe, but how soon you drop them in may depend a bit on how much you trust the accuracy of the ammonia kit. Waiting longer is always OK and may be a prudent choice.
OP
OP
Gee,I've read some threads where hobbiest have held off from stocking because Nitrites never dropped for weeks.
The first time I cycled a tank,i used a cocktail shrimp.
I remember the nitrite dropping off rather quickly in like 24 hrs gone.
Is this nitrite exported by bacteria that eat it,changing into nitrate?
I guess I'm wondering if my nitrate will spike when the nitrite drops in this QT tank.
The first time I cycled a tank,i used a cocktail shrimp.
I remember the nitrite dropping off rather quickly in like 24 hrs gone.
Is this nitrite exported by bacteria that eat it,changing into nitrate?
I guess I'm wondering if my nitrate will spike when the nitrite drops in this QT tank.
FWIW, some nitrate kits (like Salifert) are interfered with by nitrite, so much so that a little nitrite looks like a lot of nitrate. Not an issue for a running aquarium where nitrite is likely very low, but may really confound folks cycling tanks. It may be the root of so many folks that claim that nitrate dropped a lot very early on in their aqaurium lifetime.
