Any Chemists in the house?

[AFJuvat]

Problem: After changing the water on my 300 gallon saltwater tank, I had a sudden spike in the amount of nitrite (NO2) in my tank; it was 0ppm and jumped to 0.5ppm.

After confirming that there was not a problem with my tank or equipment, I tested my tap water and found that the nitrite levels in the water straight out of the tap was about 0.75ppm and the nitrate (NO3) levels were 5 - 10 ppm

Nitrite is toxic to fish, and I am to understand that it isn't exactly great for humans either. Does anyone happen to know what the acceptable level of nitrite is for drinking water?

Thanks

[RickM]

This from a pretty informative site. Also shows highest amounts reported throughout the US... Seems TX, WA and CA head the list.

http://www.ewg.org/tapwater/contaminants/contaminant.php?contamcode=1038

[dhoward]

Start using RO water....
Tough on anenomes too...

[Rondinone]

I'm a chemist with a few years of saltwater experience to boot.

A much cheaper alternative to RO is a deionozer. You can buy one that will generate 10 M-ohm water right from the tap. Whatever you do, don't use untreated tapwater in your tank, for a variety of reasons.

BTW, there's plenty of nitrite in hot dogs and deli meat, which is why I don't eat them!

[dhoward]

Mmmmm.........Hot dogs.....

[sjf911]

There was a study published a while ago correlating the frequency of childhood leukemia with the number of hot-dogs consumed per month.