Pond Nitrite

Nitrite is an intermediate metabolite in the CYCLE. Nitrite binds fish Red Blood Cells causing gasping and brown blood disease. Pond fish that die with their gills widely flared died of Nitrite induced "met-hemoglobin-emia"

Ways to combat nitrite intoxications are as follows:

1) Know the problem exists, a simple test will tell.

2) Partial pond water changes will lower Nitrite levels

3) Addition of salt (non iodized 1 teaspoon per gallon of pond water all at once) will inhibit uptake of Nitrites. (Preferred)

4) Methylene Blue at bottle doses will also help, but not entirely reverse the Met-Hemoglobin-emia.

In many instances, the pond filter needs cleaning or upgrading.

Feeding should be suspended or reduced.