High Nitrate? Dangerous?

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~ocean;3585432; said:
0 isn't the best water conditions either...
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Could someone explain this statement? How could zero nitrates be bad in a cycled tank? And don't say it can't be done, because cause it can by using a scrubber and ion exchange resins.

I keep natives, and if you go to any lake in my area the nitrate levels are zero.
 
Toddo;3590347; said:
Could someone explain this statement? How could zero nitrates be bad in a cycled tank? And don't say it can't be done, because cause it can by using a scrubber and ion exchange resins.

I keep natives, and if you go to any lake in my area the nitrate levels are zero.
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Were're just stating that 0 nitrates is very hard to come by if you WC weekly.
Having 0 nitrates in my tank would require me to do about 50% WC everyday for about a week, maybe longer. 40ppm + 50% WC= 20ppm + 50% WC= 10ppm + 50% WC= 5ppm and so on. Add feeding and more watse as you go... you get the picture.
Sometimes I'll do 2 50% WC's to catch up, but thats about it.
Lakes are naturally filtered, nothing compares to it in the hobby only thing close IMO is drip systems. You shouldn't get a reading in a lake if it's not polluted or overstocked, not to mention it's massive volume compared to a fish tank.
 
In the hobby, 0 nitrates usually mean the cycle hasn't yet occurred. That's why I'm always suspicious of zero nitrates. Now, if the OP said nitrate was 0 and he has all the stuff you have hooked up, then, I'd not worry about it. Usually, though, 0 nitrate accompanies detectable levels of ammonia and nitrite, because the cycle isn't complete, or has been interrupted somehow.
 
He definetly restarted his cycle cause he stated he had ammonia in the tank.

OP you stated that you slack on the cleanings so I figure you probably make up for it by really doing a big cleaning next time you do which usually results in what you are looking at now.

I'd just stick with light cleanings for awhile.
 
I said when I used to live at my old place, I don't remember having any colors come out on the nitrates side with the test strips. I recently moved, got a new tank, and I just recently checked my water parameters and nitrates are coming out between 40-70? I can't be really accurate because I'm using test strips...


Are there any other tests that are very accurate when it comes to testing water parameters?
 
Liquid tests.

Edit: Did you ever say that you tested the tap water alone and I missed it? I think it would be interesting to see what the tap water nitrate is.
 
Oooh, the plot thickens! Honestly, this is the best-case scenario. It would have really sucked if they were coming from the tap, because it's not like you can change it. If they're zero from the tap, it has to be down to over-stocking or not doing enough water changes, and you said earlier you're doing a bunch of them.... is there a chance you're overstocked?
 
I was before... I had 20 Datnoids, 8 endlis, Chinese perch, 2 angel fish, 10 clown loaches, 1 Marble stingray.. They are all in a 180 gallon with a 60 gallon wet and dry and FX5..


I do 50% water change every Wednesday and 50% on Saturdays.
 
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