how to control and lower nitrite levels in a fish pond/water garden ?

Answer 1

Increased nitrite levels usually mean the necessary bacteria in your pond to turn them into nitrate has not developed in sufficient numbers. For the time being, the best thing you can do is increase the aeration and change up to half of the water in your pond. Do this every few days until the levels are back to normal. You can also opt to purchase a nitrite remover at your local pond supply store. Do not add any more plants/fish for another few weeks.

Answer 2

Many of the answers you already received are quite accurate. If this is a new pond (or an existing one that has been recently stripped and cleaned) the population of bacteria that convert toxic nitrite to benign nitrate are still too small. Given another 2-3 weeks the bacteria populations will grow and the pond will become a balanced "ecosystem."

Once the pond has achieved balance you may not have to deal with high nitrite levels again. But you still need to test for them weekly. In the meantime lower the levels by doing 25% water changes. The new water should be declorinated/conditioned and a temperature +/- 2 degrees of the pond with a PH of 6.5 or less. Some people find it more practical to drain 25% of the pond and refill over the next 24 hours by trickling water in with a garden hose. Test for nitrites daily and repeat the 25% water change daily until the nitrites are under control.

If the nitrite level is very high (top of the scale) you'll need to do a 50% change right away. I would not normally suggest this much but the risk posed by nitrites is much greater than the risk of a 50% water change. I do stress it is critical to use water with a PH of 6.5 or lower.

There is no need to filter the water unless you want to keep it clear for viewing the fish. However, you should have a circulating pump running 24/7. Lifting water from the bottom of the pond to the surface is essential the gas exchange that takes place where the water contacts the air. Put simply, bad cases like CO2 are released from the water while good gases like O are absorbed. And oxygen is good for the fish and the bacterial populations.

Good luck to you

Answer 3

Make sure you have an efficient biological filter with a pump that turns the water of the pond over once or twice an hour. It all depends how big your pond is and how many fish you have. Reduce the number of fish and increase more oxygenating plants. Change 10% of the water a week. Increase aeration with a waterfall, fountain or an air pump. Regularly clean out any muck and reduce feeding. If all this fails to get rid of all nitrite levels then you could use zeolite in a bag in the filter but this only removes ammonia before it turns into nitrites and will need recharging.

Answer 4

In case you don't know, AMMONIA is a toxic chemical produced by fish poop, dead fish, uneaten food, leaves, and other organic material decaying in the water. Bacteria naturally forms in the filter and on the surfaces of the pond to break it down into a less toxic form, NITRITE. This is still very toxic, and more bacteria forms to break this down into an even less toxic NITRATE. The nitrate is either turned into a gas and evaporates, or gets used by plants and algae as food, or is removed by you by changing the water.

Any trace of AMMONIA or NITRITE is caused by either too much waste decaying, too little good bacteria, or both.

You can reduce the WASTE by removing exess fish, food, dead fish, leaves, etc. You can also temporarily add ammo-chips and charcoal to the filter, but that is just a quick fix, you need bacteria to grow, which takes weeks sometimes.

You can increase BACTERIA by adding a bacteria supplement from the store, increasing aeration and circulation, increasing the surface area the bacteria grows on (more filter sponge and media, increase size of pond, add rocks and decor), lowering the NITRATE if it is a problem. Hope this helps!

Answer 5

Is your pond new? If so, you could be going through a "cycle" in which case your NITRITE levels will spike. This is natural and will die down once your bacteria colonies are well established.

I'm not sure if it will work in an outdoor pond, but adding a live bacteria culture like BIO SPIRA might help. I know it works for tanks but not sure about outdoor ponds..it should in theory.

Answer 6

Well i am not so sure but i think you better go to the vet..he may help...

Answer 7

I WOULD DO THIS:WEEAHHH