NT Labs MARINE Nitrite Test Kit

Nitrite is the intermediate product in the nitrification process. Nitrite originates as a waste product produced by nitrifying bacteria as a result of processing ammonia. It is commonly encountered in newly set up aquaria, where there has been a significant increase in the number of animals in the aquarium, or if the filter has been disrupted.

Due to the presence of salt, nitrite is much less toxic to marine organisms than freshwater animals. Filtration bacteria in a well-established marine aquarium process nitrite as quickly as it is produced. The presence of nitrite therefore is an indicator that the equilibrium of the aquarium has been disrupted. Testing for nitrite regularly can help quickly assess the health of a marine aquarium before a problem becomes harmful to fish and marine invertebrates.

A healthy, mature aquarium should have 0 mg/l nitrite at all times. Any positive nitrite reading likely indicates a problem with the aquarium and should be addressed.