Maintaining at least a 10 to 1 ratio
of chloride to nitrite in a pond
effectively prevents nitrite from
entering catfish. Where catfish (or
other fish) have bacterial and/or
parasite diseases, their sensitivity
to nitrite may be greater, and a
higher chloride-to-nitrite ratio
may be needed to afford added
protection from nitrite invasion
into the bloodstream. As a general
rule, catfish producers strive to
maintain at least 100 ppm chloride
in pond waters as “insurance”
against high spikes of nitrite concentration.
Culturists of other
species may want to assume that
nitrite is a potential problem and
use salt as an insurance buffer as
well.