Nitrites
What is it? Nitrites are a specific form of nitrogen during the nitrogen life cycle. Nitrogen compounds dissolved in water are an important class of plant nutrients. Nitrite is a nitrogen waste product in the biological filtration process. In a healthy biological cycle, bacteria convert the nitrite into nitrate, which is relatively non-toxic to fish at certain levels.
Why is it important? Excess levels in water can not only be toxic to fish but to humans as well!
What does it mean?
- Levels over 1 mg/L are considered dangerous
- It is natural to have some nitrites in water
- High levels could indicate runoff from nitrate fertilizers used in agriculture
- The ratio of Nitrites to nitrates is dependent on how much dissolved oxygen there is
- High levels causes extra plant growth, which then chokes out fish (due to decreasing oxygen)