Adding Fuel to the Nitrate Debate: Why Water Changes DONT Reduce Nitrates

[vanilla__gorilla__]

I bleave in water changes I do 50% a week and graval vak and in my 180g the nitrates have not gone over 10 in the 5 years it has been sett up so if water changes didn't work then my nitrates should be wuch higher

 

[Jason]

well since my nitrates in my neglected tank are 200 ppm i suppose i am way the hell behind on my water changes there. that might explain few algae problems.

ah well that tank hasnt had a motile life form in it in three years thats bigger than a ramshorn snail so i suppose no harm no foul. Its also the only tank i've been able to keep java fern alive in for any length of time go figrue.

very interesting i'll have to ponder this at work tomorrow.

jason

 

[Miles]

Hmm.. 1750 gallons, flow-through system with automatic water changer.. Changing 25gph. Nitrates never get above 20ppm, fish never die.. HMmmm?? Am I missing something?

This is kind of a dumb debate.. Looks like some people are being antagonists. I don't even see the point? Other than the guy who started the original concept thread is an idiot..

 

[Fry]

if your nitrates climb to a level where it will be toxic to your fish you are either:

1. overfeeding
2. overstocked
3. not doing enough water changes
4. not changing enough water each time

 

[dodgefreak8]

everyone thinks that they are smarter than the next guy here damn!! All I know is I do a 50% change weekly and my nitrate is 15ppm never moves.. thats all the proof I need and I didn't even have to do any math woohoo!!!!!

 

[Guinness]

I didn't mind figuring out the math. I was at work and the samples I needed didn't come in, so I had nothing else to do.
Guinness

 

[vanilla__gorilla__]

everyone thinks that they are smarter than the next guy here damn!! All I know is I do a 50% change weekly and my nitrate is 15ppm never moves.. thats all the proof I need and I didn't even have to do any math woohoo!!!!!

you should check your tapp water it maybe 15 also

 

[hillbilly]

you should check your tapp water it maybe 15 also

That's my problem. My water out of the faucet is 20ppm. Needless to say, I do more and larger water changes that I would like. Experimenting with a drip system now, and hoping for more stability.

 

[meiling]

try mixing some r/o water.

 

[shekes]

Read post #2 of this thread and this time click the link MFKers!

My formula is right, Guiness'es is wrong. Sorry

The "article" is badly written. It says "control" but means "eliminate" and says "normalise" but means "level off/out/stablise". If you read it again substituting "eliminate" for "control" and "level off/out/stablise" for "normalise", you might actually understand it.

It is very awkward indeed but it helps my cause:

Repair,

Large waterchanges are better!