High nitrates from tap

[hart24601]

Look up your water company. Sometimes they have real time monitoring. I would guess the test kit is off with tap nitrates that high. The EPA legal limit is 10ppm which we hit here in Iowa and they had to install an expensive treatment facility and there are lawsuits over it all. Above 10 can get babies very sick and even die - so I would 1st suspect test kit error IF you are on city water. Well water is another game. I use RO/DI in my tanks here. Because cities have to be so conscious of liability if babies get sick almost always when people test their tap (city) and its above 10 it's test kit error. Not that it isn't possible.


https://safewater.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/sections/202346267

Edit: sorry I didn't see your location! The above is applicable to US only. My bad!

 

[Jez1992]

Look up your water company. Sometimes they have real time monitoring. I would guess the test kit is off with tap nitrates that high. The EPA legal limit is 10ppm which we hit here in Iowa and they had to install an expensive treatment facility and there are lawsuits over it all. Above 10 can get babies very sick and even die - so I would 1st suspect test kit error IF you are on city water. Well water is another game. I use RO/DI in my tanks here. Because cities have to be so conscious of liability if babies get sick almost always when people test their tap (city) and its above 10 it's test kit error. Not that it isn't possible.


https://safewater.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/sections/202346267

Edit: sorry I didn't see your location! The above is applicable to US only. My bad!

Thanks all,

But yeah in uk legal limit in tap is 50 and I'm on city supply.

Test kits are pretty new and in date. And I dontwant to start using chemical as I do large water changes and feel like adding artificial chemicals is gon a be just as bad for fish long term

As long as it won't affect fish is all I'm worried about, will look into ro water mix maybe, then won't need to worry as much about remineralisation etc.

 

[Woefulrelic]

Have you considered plant filtration? I'm not sure of your set up so it might be too unsightly but it may be a more organic solution.

 

[jaws7777]

Look for whole house filtration systems. Ive been researching different companies. The latest company states there nitrate filtration (ion exchange) will remove up to 110ppm of nitrate from your tap water.

 

[Drstrangelove]

I live in south east England and no my water from tap reads anything from 40 to 80ppm for nitrate each time.

According to what I could find, the approved standard regulation level for the EU is 50 ppm. If you add fast growing plants and /or resins like Purigen, you should be able to keep your nitrate levels much lower, but ultimately, using those methods alone, you will be limited in how low you can keep the nitrate readings.

Keeping fewer fish or switching to lower protein foods should allow you to do smaller water changes and indirectly that should enable you to maintain an overall lower level as well.

 

[dan518]

How big is your tank, if it's relatively small you can pre treat the water. When I had marine I would put water in a 80 L tub with a home made algae scrubber for a week, it worked. What stock is in there

 

[esoxlucius]

I feel for you pal, i live just up the road in lancashire! My tap nitrates are 0ppm and even with that beneficial starting point it's still a pain keeping them around 5-10ppm. You must feel like you're pushing water uphill! Reduce stock, minimal feeding, get your tank looking like a jungle.....or move to lancashire!

 

[jaws7777]

Purigen wont remove nitrates already in the water

 

[markstrimaran]

I live in Iowa, lots of farmland. High nitrate water.
My tank is constantly 8ppm nitrate. I carbon dose. Their is a bacteria, that will consume nitrates.

 

[jaws7777]

Id like to hear more about this

I live in Iowa, lots of farmland. High nitrate water.
My tank is constantly 8ppm nitrate. I carbon dose. Their is a bacteria, that will consume nitrates.