Aquarium Nitrite - What You Need to Know

Nitrite is produced by nitrosomonas bacteria, and the conversion of ammonia in the presence of oxygen. Nitrite is toxic to fish but is normally removed through the biological filtration of the aquarium. To understand the importance of this substance, it is necessary to have some knowledge of the nitrogen cycle in an aquarium.

The Nitrogen Cycle and Nitrite:

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Nitrogen is an essential element of all living matter. In an aquarium, which contains fish, plants, crustaceans, etc, organic waste is continuously released into the system (manure, dead leaves, leftover food). All of this waste is turned by bacteria into ammonia, a toxin that is very dangerous for all aquarium inhabitants if it is not eliminated. The nitrogen cycle represents the transformations the ammonia will undergo, becoming nitrites and then finally nitrates, that are much less toxic. This is a sort of "biological treatment" through the actions of billions of bacteria that are used as an energy source.

One type of bacteria called nitrosomonas will first convert the ammonia (NO3-), a highly toxic nitrite (NO2-), into a slightly less toxic one. A second class of bacteria called nitrospira will then turn the nitrites into nitrates (this is not toxic except at high doses, and when it is used long-term for goldfish).

This series of transformations is carried out consistently and "loops" in the aquarium (at least until it becomes "fuel" for the bacteria); that is why we speak of the "nitrogen cycle".

The problem is that initially a new aquarium is virtually sterile: the bacteria cannot do their job of "cleaning" because they are too few. This results in the ammonia and the aquarium nitrites accumulating toxins, which is called the New Tank Syndrome.

It should only take a few weeks after the water is first used for the bacteria to establish. Make sure that the bacteria are established enough to treat waste effectively. The establishment of the nitrogen cycle will then be complete and the filter of the aquarium will be mature (zero ammonia and zero nitrites will mean healthy goldfish).

During the implementation of the nitrogen cycle, it is essential that:

- You perform frequent partial water changes in order to dilute the concentration of ammonia and nitrite;

- You feed the fish as reasonably as possible in order to limit the amount of waste produced;

- You begin with a limited number of fish so that the filter can adapt gradually to the production of waste. Thus, your first fish will suffer less. Then gradually increase the population of the aquarium;

Aquarium Nitrite - What You Need to Know

Lawes