Skip to content

Water health & quality

Nitrites and nitrates in the aquarium

In a cycled aquarium, nitrites at 0; low nitrates with water changes. Nitrites > 0 burn gills just like ammonia.

Nitrites and nitrates in the aquarium

Key facts

The essentials of the topic before the full article.

Criterio En un acuario ciclado, nitritos a 0; nitratos bajos con cambios de agua.
Mide Nitritos > 0 queman branquias igual que el amoniaco.
Hábitos No «esperes a que baje» sin actuar.
Alerta Jadeo en superficie o peces apáticos: actúa el mismo día.

In a cycled aquarium, nitrites at 0; low nitrates with water changes. Nitrites

Measure, don't guess.If there are fish and NH₃/NO₂⁻conditioner · ammonia · filter.

Aquarium hobby (fish/water only)

Reference:Merck — aquarium fish

Topic: "aquarium nitrites nitrates". Measure before medicating: ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, temperature and appearance of the fish.

  • Biological load consistent with real liters and filtration.
  • Regular partial water changes; Do not clean the filter with hot tap water.
  • Related:nitrogen cycle.

Alarms

  • Panting, stuck fins, die-off, high ammonia/nitrite.

Do not mix advice from walks, snacks or mammal heat.

Based on reference sources. Orientación por species, anclada a fuentes de referencia. No sustituye atención veterinaria.

Practical detail

  • Measure ammonia/nitrite/nitrate and temperature before medicating.
  • Partial water changes; Do not clean the filter material with hot tap water.
  • Sobrepoblación y sobrenutrition son causas frecuentes de crisis.

Frequently asked questions

Can I copy a tip from another species?

No. Do not blindly medicate or use mammalian advice for water.

Home medication

Do not use human drugs or viral tips.

Does this replace a veterinarian?

No.

Sources

  1. Merck — Aquarium fish www.merckvetmanual.com· consulted 2026-08-07
  2. OATA — Water quality (trade assoc.) ornamentalfish.org· consulted 2026-08-07