J.Mcpeak
Aquarium Advice Addict
Dangers of Nitrites in Fish | Animals - PawNation
"In aquarium water chemistry, many chemicals interact with each other in complicated ways. While nitrite itself threatens fish directly, it may also be a sign of other problems in the water. Any detectable level of nitrite is too high; if you can detect it, you must address the underlying problem.
In a healthy, established aquarium, various bacteria break down ammonia, nitrite, phosphate and other contaminants. Aquarium antibiotics, sudden changes in water chemistry and broken aquarium equipment can harm these bacteria. So if you see a sudden spike in nitrite in such a tank, there's a good chance something else is amiss, so test your water for ammonia, phosphate and pH. While nitrite can be a problem all by itself, it's also a warning sign that something else has gone wrong.
Dangers to Fish
Nitrite is toxic to aquarium fish, whether of freshwater or marine varieties. It's chemically similar to ammonia and causes similar problems, though it is somewhat milder. Nitrite can burn the gills of aquarium fish. Additionally, despite damage to the gills, fish can still absorb nitrite into their bloodstream, where it can cause internal chemical burns. Fish suffering from nitrite poisoning will typically breath rapidly and swim in darting motions. They may also appear to gasp at the surface of the water."
This is a good brief summary, it should explain why you may feel like we are meandering around the subject of nitrite as opposed to being focused on it, the interaction of nitrite is just one piece of the puzzle and I think to a certain extent the other elements involved (mainly nh3/4, and pH) need to be acknowledged at least briefly as they all have some effect on each of the factors involved and within themselves.
Dabbling with one will effect another. (Aside from gaining the understanding of toxicity damage) I think the other compounds involved should be covered so it is more complete as a subject.
"In aquarium water chemistry, many chemicals interact with each other in complicated ways. While nitrite itself threatens fish directly, it may also be a sign of other problems in the water. Any detectable level of nitrite is too high; if you can detect it, you must address the underlying problem.
In a healthy, established aquarium, various bacteria break down ammonia, nitrite, phosphate and other contaminants. Aquarium antibiotics, sudden changes in water chemistry and broken aquarium equipment can harm these bacteria. So if you see a sudden spike in nitrite in such a tank, there's a good chance something else is amiss, so test your water for ammonia, phosphate and pH. While nitrite can be a problem all by itself, it's also a warning sign that something else has gone wrong.
Dangers to Fish
Nitrite is toxic to aquarium fish, whether of freshwater or marine varieties. It's chemically similar to ammonia and causes similar problems, though it is somewhat milder. Nitrite can burn the gills of aquarium fish. Additionally, despite damage to the gills, fish can still absorb nitrite into their bloodstream, where it can cause internal chemical burns. Fish suffering from nitrite poisoning will typically breath rapidly and swim in darting motions. They may also appear to gasp at the surface of the water."
This is a good brief summary, it should explain why you may feel like we are meandering around the subject of nitrite as opposed to being focused on it, the interaction of nitrite is just one piece of the puzzle and I think to a certain extent the other elements involved (mainly nh3/4, and pH) need to be acknowledged at least briefly as they all have some effect on each of the factors involved and within themselves.
Dabbling with one will effect another. (Aside from gaining the understanding of toxicity damage) I think the other compounds involved should be covered so it is more complete as a subject.