Sheila
New Member
OK...have been reading up a lot on tank cycling and nitrites and came across this:
Nitrite is formed by the conversion of ammonia by nitrifying bacteria. Nitrite is toxic to fish because it binds with the hemoglobin in fish’s blood to form methemoglobin. Hemoglobin carries oxygen through the body while methemoglobin does not, so fish in high nitrite waters may suffocate even if sufficient oxygen is present. If enough methemoglobin is present in a fish’s blood, it will cause the blood to appear brown instead of red. Consequently, nitrite toxicity is often called “brown blood disease.”
If nitrite is present, a water change should be performed. If the fish species in the tank will tolerate increased salinity, salt can be added to the aquarium to increase the level of chloride in the water. Chloride levels should be at least six times greater than nitrite levels. Chloride prevents the uptake of nitrite by the fish’s blood thus eliminating the effects of brown blood disease. However, the addition of salt/chloride does not remove nitrite from the system, and the source of the nitrite must be controlled.
My question....will this work and if it will....do I have any fish that wouldn't tolerate the salt (look at my signature for fishies in the tank). If I should do this, how much do you add?
Nitrite is formed by the conversion of ammonia by nitrifying bacteria. Nitrite is toxic to fish because it binds with the hemoglobin in fish’s blood to form methemoglobin. Hemoglobin carries oxygen through the body while methemoglobin does not, so fish in high nitrite waters may suffocate even if sufficient oxygen is present. If enough methemoglobin is present in a fish’s blood, it will cause the blood to appear brown instead of red. Consequently, nitrite toxicity is often called “brown blood disease.”
If nitrite is present, a water change should be performed. If the fish species in the tank will tolerate increased salinity, salt can be added to the aquarium to increase the level of chloride in the water. Chloride levels should be at least six times greater than nitrite levels. Chloride prevents the uptake of nitrite by the fish’s blood thus eliminating the effects of brown blood disease. However, the addition of salt/chloride does not remove nitrite from the system, and the source of the nitrite must be controlled.
My question....will this work and if it will....do I have any fish that wouldn't tolerate the salt (look at my signature for fishies in the tank). If I should do this, how much do you add?