Nitrite - Deadly Poison or Just Smog?
- Thread starter bang guy
- Start date
birdy
Active Member
Hmmmm interesting. honestly I am not sure, maybe it is not as deadly as they say, but it seems that fish that I have had live through nitrite spikes have gotten ich.
So I guess the nitrite itself may not be deadly, but I don't think it is completely harmless.
How is that for being on the fence.
So I guess the nitrite itself may not be deadly, but I don't think it is completely harmless.
How is that for being on the fence.
S
sinner's girl
Guest
Nitrates aren't harmful? now I'm really lost.
Honestly, I know nothing about nitrites, just that am turns to nitrites, which turn to nitrates.
Honestly, I know nothing about nitrites, just that am turns to nitrites, which turn to nitrates.
drew2005
Active Member
Originally Posted by Sinner's Girl
Nitrates aren't harmful? now I'm really lost.
Honestly, I know nothing about nitrites, just that am turns to nitrites, which turn to nitrates.
Nitrates can be harmful at very high levels. Nitrites break down the ammonia. Ammonia is toxic at any level. I think fish can withstand low levels of nitrite and nitrate.
Nitrates aren't harmful? now I'm really lost.
Honestly, I know nothing about nitrites, just that am turns to nitrites, which turn to nitrates.
Nitrates can be harmful at very high levels. Nitrites break down the ammonia. Ammonia is toxic at any level. I think fish can withstand low levels of nitrite and nitrate.
drew2005
Active Member
Originally Posted by Sinner's Girl
Nitrates aren't harmful? now I'm really lost.
Honestly, I know nothing about nitrites, just that am turns to nitrites, which turn to nitrates.
Nitrates are harmful at high levels. Thats why its important to keep it as low as possible or under 20ppm.
Nitrates aren't harmful? now I'm really lost.
Honestly, I know nothing about nitrites, just that am turns to nitrites, which turn to nitrates.
Nitrates are harmful at high levels. Thats why its important to keep it as low as possible or under 20ppm.
snailheave
Active Member
'Bang is Nuts'
i voted for the first option after seeing that. so i guess it's not that accurate.
i voted for the first option after seeing that. so i guess it's not that accurate.
bang guy
Moderator
Originally Posted by Sula
Bang Guy, am I reading the results correctly? You voted that you are nuts????
Just proves that I am LOL
I had no intention of voting must have been a random mouse click whoops!
I recently read two fairly good SWF books and both of them stated that Nitrite is a deadly toxin and that even a small level will kill fish. They stated this as if it were common knowledge. So, I wanted to know who else believes this hogwash.
Nitrite is deadly for freshwater fish but it would take an impossible amount to kill a saltwater fish. In fact, I believe one of the cures for Nitrite in a freshwater tank is to add salt to make the Nitrite less toxic.
Bang Guy, am I reading the results correctly? You voted that you are nuts????
Just proves that I am LOL
I had no intention of voting must have been a random mouse click whoops!
I recently read two fairly good SWF books and both of them stated that Nitrite is a deadly toxin and that even a small level will kill fish. They stated this as if it were common knowledge. So, I wanted to know who else believes this hogwash.
Nitrite is deadly for freshwater fish but it would take an impossible amount to kill a saltwater fish. In fact, I believe one of the cures for Nitrite in a freshwater tank is to add salt to make the Nitrite less toxic.
S
sinner's girl
Guest
I recently read two fairly good SWF books
How do you judge a book? I picked one up, thought it was good untill they said to add an Angel on week 4 (without testing water) and some other fish, the fish at least seemed okay for 90gl, but they were adding way too fish too fast, some which I don't think would be good in a young tank.
My degrees are in English, I'm all about books, but I what I know, what I read is, seems to differ from what's in the books.
How do you judge a book? I picked one up, thought it was good untill they said to add an Angel on week 4 (without testing water) and some other fish, the fish at least seemed okay for 90gl, but they were adding way too fish too fast, some which I don't think would be good in a young tank.
My degrees are in English, I'm all about books, but I what I know, what I read is, seems to differ from what's in the books.
bang guy
Moderator
I have two different criteria for a good swf book, one for new hobbiests and one for advanced hobbiests.
1 - It expalins the lingo and processes in an easy to understand format, good index for use as a reference, and is accurate.
2 - It explains complex issues with a lot of research and thought in a language that even I can understand.
1 - It expalins the lingo and processes in an easy to understand format, good index for use as a reference, and is accurate.
2 - It explains complex issues with a lot of research and thought in a language that even I can understand.
S
sinner's girl
Guest
Once you cycle you don't ever see nitrites unless you have an ammonia spike right? In which case, why worry about them once the tank is cycled and stable. Or am I missing something?
monalisa
Active Member
I just know that when I'm doing my water tests, I hold my breath while the ammonia and the nitrites get going. I've only had a very SMALL ammonia spike about 3 weeks- month ago after I put in some of those cyranthis snails (are those the kind that bury themselves into the sand?)...anyway it was a very, very small spike, and I figured that it was from the snails stirring things up in the sand. All of my follow up tests have been zeroed down with ammonia, and I never did see a nitrite spike. Don't want to either...
Lisa :happyfish
Lisa :happyfish
the reef
Member
I would say it wouldent have to be as high as nitrate to kill your fish so I would say it is more deadly for them to breath but if the nitrite got much higher than the nitrate then I would say that the cycle is defintly not established enough. should break it down within a few days so I would say is not as bad as they claim it to be I would also say that the amonia is the most toxic of all can be more toxic than those two in smaller doses
T
tizzo
Guest
I didn't vote because there is no possible way for me to know so I won't venture a guess, but I did search the net to find why all the books started claiming that it is toxic and of course I came up with nothing. But one thing did catch my attention in several articles, including our own drinking water. Which was that nitrite, when absorbed into the blood stream does something to it that makes it less able to absorb oxygen. So in a fish tank where nitrite is present, you should increase aeration and it will remedy the problem. Which leads me to believe that the actual nitrite isn't toxic, but rather it's side effect is (or can be)...
Kind of a catch 22. Oh, I copied this from another sigh since I'm not so good with words...
**The fish cannot absorb oxygen properly with so much nitrite present. It changes their blood chemistry. **
:notsure:
But just so you know, this topic has kept me thinking all stinkin' night!!
h*
Kind of a catch 22. Oh, I copied this from another sigh since I'm not so good with words...
**The fish cannot absorb oxygen properly with so much nitrite present. It changes their blood chemistry. **
:notsure:
But just so you know, this topic has kept me thinking all stinkin' night!!
h*