40 ppm Nitrates enough for HITH?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
somewhat misleading info from the LFS

high nitrates don't cause HITH, but it is suspected that they weaken the fish and make them susceptible to HITH

yes, they can live with HITH, but that doesn't mean it is ok for them to get it; i.e., it is still a bad thing (and certainly unattractive)

no one should argue that plants will "get rid of your nitrate problem", but they are a tool to be used in controlling your nitrate problem . . .

and of course, he took the opportunity to sell you "meds" . . . well, good for him
 
i think that something is wrond with my test kit because i just tested all of my tanks and all of the tanks havee the exact same params with 40 ppm nitrates that cant be right because one of the tanks is a heavilt planted 30 gallon tank and the other is a 10 gallon tank with cichlid fry and i havent lost any of them
 
japes;4355515; said:
Negative. You say that like it's a definite.
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it is, if you follow the basic rules of stocking.


Why are you making it difficult for some one who is already having difficulties with such an easy thing?

no offense...


just change 40% of the water each week, and your problems should be solved. Your eventually going to need to get rid of some fish or upgrade, until then you should make sure your taking out enough water to compensate for waste. Which your obviously not.

Simple, don't complicate.
 
yeah you might want to go and get a new nitrate test kit especially if it is old, but high nitrates doesn't necessarily kill the fish like high ammonia would, it just affects them in the long term and affects their growth and immune systems, stunting them and making them more likely to get sick. and no plants wont get rid of nitrates completely but they will help control them because they use nitrates for their growth, but in oscar tanks this usually isnt an option because they will just be torn up

and i would say probably 98% of HITH cases are caused by bad environmental conditions, it is actually really rare for it to be caused by the parasite and be treatable with parasite meds

and Thecanuck, what japes meant was you cant just say such an umbrella statement, so yes most likely that would solve it but its not a definite thing as the HITH could be caused by something else even though its most likely the water its not a 100% thing as their are lots of other causes of HITH
 
Keeping nitrate levels at no higher than 40 ppm, or ideally lower is recommended although many people like to keep their levels below 20 ppm for peace of mind. If your nitrate levels do become very high, your fish may become very lethargic and go off its food.

i copy/pasted this from www.oscarfishlover.com

my oscar still eats as much as when i first got him
 
icherno7;4355560; said:
Keeping nitrate levels at no higher than 40 ppm, or ideally lower is recommended although many people like to keep their levels below 20 ppm for peace of mind. If your nitrate levels do become very high, your fish may become very lethargic and go off its food.

i copy/pasted this from www.oscarfishlover.com
Click to expand...

Ill say it again, just like everyone else, so take the advice that youre getting from EVERYONE and dont take the easy way out if you care that your fish has HITH...

water changes, water changes, water changes nitrates below 20ppm

at least 40%, better if 50-75% weekly. Most people on here with the healthiest, best looking fish do at least that...and there is not much better for the fish than clean water.

Once thats achieved, you can look in other areas if its still happening...
 
i remember an article posted here a year or 2 ago about a study done on a smaller tank with a HUGE bioload where the guy installed a drain into the tank, bare bottom, he changed 100% of the water daily. he used pure ammonia and cycled the tank and filter, dumped every drop of water and filled with fresh, kept running the filter because it took care of the ammonia through out the day. at the 24 hour mark he opened the valve and dumped it all and filled it again. the fish were kind of sketchy to say the least the first couple times he did it, they didnt like laying on the bottom of the tank with no water in it. but after a few times they started getting excited when it was water dump time. this is closer to simulating there actual natural habitats water than anything we do on a normal basis in keeping fish (excluding marine tanks that are so established and set up so well that they dont ever have to do w/c's or even feed there fish)



now on a side note about the plants...... he's got a sump right? IT DOESNT MATTER WHAT FISH ARE IN THE TANK THEY CANT EVEN TOUCH THE PLANTS IF YOU PUT THEM IN THE SUMP. algae balls work well. put some high lighting on the sump if you put any plant life in there.
 
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