Nitrite Poisoning
Of all the toxins present during the cycle, Nitrites are the most toxic. This does not mean that ammonia and nitrate are not, but that you must be even more careful when nitrites appear.Gasping at the surface, dull, beige gills and rapid gill movement. Your fish may also appear listless and lethargic.
Nitrite poisoning cause an increase of methemoglobin, which hinders the blood from carrying oxygen. The fish can suffocate from lack of oxygen, even though the water is oxygen rich. Prolonged periods of exposure can cause lasting damage to the liver, gills and blood cells and leaves the fish open to secondary infection.
If your fish is in a “C” shape, it is often too late, but treatment may work
Nitrite poisoning cause an increase of methemoglobin, which hinders the blood from carrying oxygen. The fish can suffocate from lack of oxygen, even though the water is oxygen rich. Prolonged periods of exposure can cause lasting damage to the liver, gills and blood cells and leaves the fish open to secondary infection.
If your fish is in a “C” shape, it is often too late, but treatment may work
Treatment
☆ Test your parameters. Perform a water change. If your tank and tap pH differ by more than 0.5, multiple 50% changes may be in order. If they match, you can go bigger with your changes.
☆ Double dose Prime, to protect the fish from any nitrites that remain.
☆ Raise salinity to 0.1% (0.1% = 1 gram per litre/1 teaspoon per gallon) to protect the fish from the effects of the nitrites. The salt prevents methemoglobin from building up.
☆ Reduce feeding to reduce the amount of waste excreted.
☆ Increase surface agitation to get as much oxygen as you can into the water.
☆ Test your water daily and perform changes and double dose Prime. Nitrites are lethal at a much lower level than ammonia, so should be monitored very closely
☆ Double dose Prime, to protect the fish from any nitrites that remain.
☆ Raise salinity to 0.1% (0.1% = 1 gram per litre/1 teaspoon per gallon) to protect the fish from the effects of the nitrites. The salt prevents methemoglobin from building up.
☆ Reduce feeding to reduce the amount of waste excreted.
☆ Increase surface agitation to get as much oxygen as you can into the water.
☆ Test your water daily and perform changes and double dose Prime. Nitrites are lethal at a much lower level than ammonia, so should be monitored very closely