JBL TestLab Handbuch Seite 39

Nitrite Test Set (NO
Special features:
The JBL nitrite test set NO
marine aquariums as well as in garden ponds within the range 0.025-1.0 mg/litre (ppm). Using the compensation
method specially developed by JBL, precise and reliable results can be obtained even in moderately discoloured
water, e.g. as a result of peat filters and disease treatment.
Why test?
The following applies to freshwater and saltwater as well as to garden ponds: The process involved in the
breakdown or the mineralization of organic matter in the water (feed and plant debris, fish excrement) follows
the stages protein - ammonium - nitrite - nitrate.
Certain bacteria are responsible for this process. Measuring the intermediate stages ammonium, nitrite and
nitrate allows certain conclusions to be made about the "function" of the system "aquarium" or the system
"pond". Normally, ammonium and nitrite should not be allowed to enrich concentrations of above 0.2 mg/l
(ppm). If they do, the bacterial balance may be disturbed. Many of the medications used to treat fish diseases
can damage beneficial cleansing bacteria, leading to an increase in nitrite levels. As a rule, nitrite is not found
in measurable amounts in a well-maintained aquarium with an efficient biological filter or in a correctly planted
garden pond. Like ammonia, nitrite is highly toxic for fish; depending on the sensitivity of the fish species,
concentrations between 0.5 and 1 mg/l (ppm) may be lethal. In general, marine fish and young fish tend to be
more sensitive than adult fish.
Points to consider for garden ponds:
When temperatures drop in the Central European autumn and winter, it is particularly important to bear in mind
that the activity of the cleansing bacteria will decline as well. If unsuitable "winter food" with an excessively high
protein content is fed at this time, a dangerous increase in nitrite may occur, as the waste products from the
protein digestion cannot be processed further by the bacteria. Therefore, it is particularly important to give food
with a high energy content (fat content) and a low protein content at the same time such as JBL Koi Energil mini
and JBL Koi Energil maxi or JBL PondEnergil.
Remedy:
Short-term measure: change about 50 % of the water.
Long-term measures:
Aquarium:
Addition of cleansing bacteria with JBL Denitrol and JBL FilterStart. Use a suitable biological filter. Reduce
feed, reduce stock density of fish, if necessary; pH 7-7.5 in freshwater, 7.9 – 8.5 in saltwater.
Garden pond:
Addition of cleansing bacteria with JBL BactoPond and JBL FilterStart Pond. If not already in use, install an
efficient pond filter. If necessary, review general design concept of the pond: Is there sufficient ground-covering
material, marshy area, working as a plant based purification system etc...?
Instructions:
1. Repeatedly rinse both test jars with the water to be tested.
2. Use the enclosed syringe to fill each of the test jars with 5 ml of sample water.
3. Add 5 drops of reagent 1 followed by 5 drops of reagent 2 to one of the jars, mix by shaking after each
addition of the reagents. Allow to settle until the colouring develops fully (approx. 3 minutes).
4. Place both test jars into the comparator block: the jar with added reagent into the smooth end of the comparator
block, the jar with the untreated test water (blank sample) into the notched end of the comparator block.
5. Move the comparator block together with the jars backwards and forwards on the colour chart, with the
notched side of the block facing the scale, until the colour of the sample treated with reagent matches the
colour under the blank sample as closely as possible.
6. Read the nitrite content in the notch of the comparator.
Note:
In the event that the colour of your test sample is darker than the colours of the chart, dilute the sample with
distilled or nitrite-free water and measure again.
Depending on the dilution, the result must be multiplied as follows to determine the actual nitrite content:
2.5 ml sample + 2.5ml dist. water: result x 2
1 ml sample + 4 ml dist. water: result x 5
0.5 ml sample + 4.5ml dist. water: result x 10
)
2
is for the measurement and routine control of the nitrite content in freshwater and
2
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UK