PH(and the temp) play a part in how toxic ammonia is. The lower the PH(and temp) the less toxic ammonia is. A few weeks ago I was reading about nitrite and PH, where it said lower PH meant that nitrite would be more toxic(can't remember where i read it). Just wondering if its true?
Ammonia, Nitrite and PH
- Thread starter Doodles
- Start date
Hi all,
HNO2 is "nitrous acid". I think the reason for greater toxicity at low pH is that nitrous acid does not need to actively transported across the gills (nitrite does), and once in the fishes alkaline blood it will lose the H+ and become NO2, so basically the fish gets a bigger dose of NO2 in acidic water.
I think this is the same reason why chlorides protect against NO2 poisoning, a high level of Cl- ions means that less NO2- ions are transported across the gill membranes. Apparently CaCl2 is more efficient at reducing NO2 poisoning than NaCl.
Details here: <http://www.global-scientific-inc.com/tcru/kc/pubs/parker/p58nitrite/58nitrite.htm> It is well worth a read.
cheers Darrel
HNO2 is "nitrous acid". I think the reason for greater toxicity at low pH is that nitrous acid does not need to actively transported across the gills (nitrite does), and once in the fishes alkaline blood it will lose the H+ and become NO2, so basically the fish gets a bigger dose of NO2 in acidic water.
I think this is the same reason why chlorides protect against NO2 poisoning, a high level of Cl- ions means that less NO2- ions are transported across the gill membranes. Apparently CaCl2 is more efficient at reducing NO2 poisoning than NaCl.
Details here: <http://www.global-scientific-inc.com/tcru/kc/pubs/parker/p58nitrite/58nitrite.htm> It is well worth a read.
cheers Darrel