High Nitrate

[Thomascl]

Hi, i did my weekly nitrate test four days ago and it was dangerously high about 80ppm i did a 40% water change then iv done a 20% water change every day after till today im doing another 40% change because the Nitrate has not come down at all.
Their is:

Two motoros 11"

Two Geo Altifrons 8"

Three Geo Japuri 6"

One Tire Track Eel 19"

One Procoloudus 6"

In a 1500lt (i think about 388Gal) tank with a 4ft sump and a 40lt Fluid Bed Filter which is all run by a 10.000lt an hour water pump
If any one has any idea where this Nitrate would be building up please let me know.
Thanks

Thomas.

 

[DeLgAdO]

is the tank heavily decorated with a deep substrate?

and what in the sump? bioballs?

 

[Thomascl]

No its not heavily decorated it has a sand and gravle bottom about an 1" deep and few few bits of wood, the sump has bioballs and matrix.

 

[redtailfool]

Maybe your feeding too much ? How is your water straight from the tap ?? Does it have nitrates? In any case , you need to do large and frequent water changes to keep it down. 80ppm is very high for rays.

 

[dimfer]

if you will do a search, both fbf and bio-balls are both known for high nitrate level. as suggested by rtf, feed less and scoop the poop right away. rays are known to poop more than average fish

 

[DeLgAdO]

check and clean out the bioballs if its full of crap

 

[Thomascl]

Iv never had this problem before iv always feed them the same amount and have always done the same water changes, 40% twice a week and the nitrate has never bee above 20ppm, ill try cleaning the the bio filter

Thanks for your help guys.

Thomas

 

[Thomascl]

check and clean out the bioballs if its full of crap

Well i cleaned out my filter and there was a fear bit of crap on the bottom but nothing through the bioballs, so ill do a 40% water change tomorrow and see how it go's, i also checked my tap water and it has 0 nitrate.

Thomas

 

[flyingsaucer owner]

You need to up the percentage of water that you change to around 60-75%. Large frequent changes are the only way to keep on top of nitrate levels

 

[Thomascl]

You need to up the percentage of water that you change to around 60-75%. Large frequent changes are the only way to keep on top of nitrate levels

I would but i dont feel safe chageing that much water as i lost all my fish once doing a 60% change, and for the price of Rays down under its not worth the risk.

Thomas