Nitrite

[Cory]

Why is nitrite not toxic to saltwater fish (or far less) than it is to freshwater fish? Whats the reason?

 

[Quietman]

Interesting question. Looks like it has to do with chloride ions competing with nitrite ions at the gills. I would think saltwater has sufficient chloride ions to reduce toxicity.

Nitrite Toxicosis In Freshwater Fish or Brown Blood Disease

www.addl.purdue.edu

 

[Quietman]

So read more and of course, Randy has said it before here. I should learn to quote the sponsor of the forum first. Apologies...

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-06/rhf/index.php

 

[Cory]

In Randys article am i reading it correctly that a green sea urchin dies at 34ppm nitrite and up but at 33ppm nitrite and below it lives?

If so that may exsplain some of my sea urchin deaths.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

In Randys article am i reading it correctly that a green sea urchin dies at 34ppm nitrite and up but at 33ppm nitrite and below it lives?

If so that may exsplain some of my sea urchin deaths.

no, it means they saw no deaths at 33 ppm and didn’t test higher.

you think you might have 30+ ppm nitrite?

 

[Cory]

no, it means they saw no deaths at 33 ppm and didn’t test higher.

you think you might have 30+ ppm nitrite?

Ah okay sorry for the stupid question. No i never had nitrite that i was aware of. Just trying to find a possible cause of sea urchin death because they are so valuable for algae. I actually have never owned a nitrite test kit for saltwater.