A good water quality monitoring
program can help prevent brown
blood disease. Pond water should
be checked for nitrite two to three
times a week during fall and
spring, and at least weekly the
remainder of the year. We recommend
maintaining a chloride-tonitrite
ratio of at least 10:1 for catfish.
Check ponds daily during a
known high nitrite incident, even
if adequate chlorides are in the
ponds. Also check chloride after
periods of heavy rain or active
flushing from well water; both
these events can dilute chloride
concentrations and reduce the
chloride:nitrite ratio.