Test Kits & Equipment » Nitrate/Nitrite Tests

The activity of the bio-filter in the aquarium system can be divided in mineralization and nitrification. The product of the mineralization process are ammonia and organic acids. The next step of decomposition is the oxidation (nitrification) of ammonia and ammonium to Nitrite (NO2). Nitrite has a toxic effect on fish because it oxidizes hemoglobin to methemoglobin. While hemoglobin is responsible for the transport of oxygen, methemoglobin lacks this ability!

Nitrite concentrations higher than 0,05mg/Lt (ppm) of NO2 are not acceptable keeping aquarium fishes.

For these reasons, the periodical analytical valuation of nitrite in the aquarium water should be considered, specially during the aquarium set-up and, periodically, to avoid the activity loss of the bio-filter system.

The Biological filtration is a method that uses naturally occurring nitrifying bacteria to detoxify nitrogenous wastes. One type of bacteria (Nitrosomonas spp.) converts ammonia to nitrite while another naturally occurring bacteria (Nitrobacter spp.) converts the nitrite into a far less harmful form of nitrogen waste: nitrate.

Nitrate is the final stage of the nitrification process. Many invertebrates, unlike fish, are not tolerable to high nitrate concentrations. As a result, it is extremely important to make sure that nitrate levels do not reach high levels.

In freshwater aquaria the optimal level of Nitrate should be below 20 mg/lt. Values of over 75 mg/lt should be avoided at all costs.

In reef marine aquarium their level should not exceed 20 mg/l. A level of 10 mg/lt is the maximum for reef aquariums.

For these reasons, the periodical analytical valuation of nitrate in the aquarium water should be considered, specially during the aquarium set-up and, periodically, to avoid a too high level inside the water of our aquaria. Our kit allows the determination of the Nitrate level within a range of 5 – 75 mg/Lt