How to treat High Nitrite in a pond
What does it look like?
- Acting irritable - 'scratching' / jumping / twitching / shimmying
- Breathing at the water's surface
- Fish appear pale or dark
- Gasping / rapid gill movement
- High nitrite test results
- Invisible issue
What are the fish doing?
- Flicking against objects
What should I do?
- Complete a 25% water change and retest after a few hours
- Add Bio Start or Bioactive Bio Activator to boost the natural bacteria in your filter to process the extra nitrite
- Support the health of your fish using Pond Guardian Pond Salt and Stress Away
- Continue to regularly test your water
Why does this happen and how do I prevent it?
Nitrite is a naturally occurring chemical in your aquarium and is created through the breakdown of ammonia by bacteria in your pond as part of the Nitrogen cycle.
The main causes of high nitrite are:
- immature or damaged biological filter
- over stocking of fish
- over feeding of fish
To prevent high nitrite levels:
- maintain a healthy environment by reducing waste and encouraging healthy bacteria to grow using a Bio Start product
- add aeration by creating an area of water flow with a waterfall or fountain
If you are keeping a pond with fish, we would recommend using a filter to help create a healthy environment for your fish and wildlife. Mechanical filtration will remove physical waste matter, whilst the Biological Filter will break down the chemicals released by waste through the Nitrogen cycle. Filters have the media needed to harbour and mature a strong biological filter to reduce water quality problems.
What treatment should I use?
Blagdon Bio Start
Bio Start contains biological cultures which within hours begin to set up the essential cycles that ensure pond water is safe for fish. Each sachet contains 8,500 million bacteria to consume fish waste.
Find out more >or
Blagdon Wildlife Bio-activator
Wildlife Bio-Activator stimulates ongoing breakdown of toxic waste produced by fish and wildlife. This treatment will help to establish an essential biological cycle in new and cleaned out ponds.
Find out more >Use with any of the above
Blagdon Tap Water Fresh Start
Tap Water Fresh Start removes chlorine and heavy metals from tap water making it safe for aquatic life in ponds. Fresh Start also adds aloe vera, instantly protecting fishes delicate fins and gills.
Find out more >or
Blagdon Wildlife Pond Tapsafe
Wildlife Pond Tapsafe protects all pond wildlife and removes harmful chlorine and heavy metals from tap water...
Find out more >For ponds without fish
or
Blagdon Stress Away
Stress Away should be used as a disease preventative to support pond fish when there natural ability to fight disease is compromised by stress for example through situations such as: introducing new fish, temperature changes during spring and autumn ...
Find out more >or
Blagdon Pond Guardian Pond Salt
Pond Guardian's unique formulation helps to create the perfect environment for pond fish. This product stabilises pond water conditions, including all the important pH value.
Find out more >Not what you are looking for? Back to Diagnose What's Wrong >
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