
So, in a stocked tank, the level should read 0 ppm (parts per million). The acceptable level of nitrites in your tank is… What nitrite levels are acceptable in your aquarium? The process of ammonia being converted into nitrites by bacteria is called nitrification. So, nitrites wouldn’t exist without ammonia. A second bacteria, called nitrobacter, then feeds on the nitrites and produces nitrates. A bacteria called nitrosomonas breaks down the ammonia into nitrites.ģ. As waste breaks down, it gives off ammonia.Ģ. To explain, here is a very brief recap of the nitrogen cycle.ġ. While waste leads to the appearance of nitrites, it is not the defining cause. How nitrites end up in your aquarium is quite a journey.Ĭommon sources of waste found in aquariums include: Pronounced nigh-trights, nitrites (NO2) are a form of dissolved nitrogen that occur naturally in the water column, which is the water inside your aquarium. What are aquarium nitrites and where do they come from? How do you prevent nitrites from building up?.What causes high nitrite levels in aquariums?.What happens if your aquarium nitrite levels are too high?.What nitrite levels are acceptable in your aquarium?.

What are aquarium nitrites and where do they come from?.
