Nitrite (NO2-) and Nitrate (NO3-) 

     Nitrite and nitrate are two important nitrogen compounds that play a major role in the aquarium. Its beneficial to have an understanding of where they come from and where they end up in your tank. In this video we highlight their major pathway and discuss how to deal with a rising nitrogen concentration. Nitrite is the first major product of the nitrogen cycle as it is the 2nd nitrogen compound generated. Ammonia oxidizing bacteria (Nitrosomonas) will convert ammonia to nitrite in the presence of carbon and oxygen. Nitrite is then passed along to nitrite oxidizing bacteria (Nitrobacter) who will oxidize it to nitrate, a much less toxic form of nitrogen.

 

     In aquariums with little to no live plants, nitrate may tend to accumulate and when in concentrations above 40 ppm (mg/l) can begin to put stress on your fish. It is important to remove this nitrogen via routine water changes. You can attempt to limit the amount of nitrate in your aquarium by reducing the amount you feed your fish.