High Nitrates!....bummer

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
pacu mom;2723463; said:
You have enough biological filtration if your ammonia and nitrite readings are 0. Adding more filtration will not lower your nitrates. However, something like an FX-5 will give you more mechanical filtration (depending on the media you use). You know what they say---you can't have enough mechanical filtration. You can always justify an FX-5 for redundant/back up filtration. That's what I use mine for. It came in handy when I added a UV sterilizer to it to clear up a green water problem in our tank. It definitely gives peace of mind knowing you have backup filtration should you ever need it. It could also be used to quickly set up a hospital tank.
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Lets hope its a big hospital tank:nilly:
 
wow_it_esploded;2727930; said:
Lets hope its a big hospital tank:nilly:
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lol I can see a 20 gallon have a fx5 start up and suddenly its only 3/4 full:headbang2
 
well today I checked my tap nitrates were 5 pp

So I did a 70% wc and tested my tank 5 - 10 ppm wohoo!
Well that didn't seem right but it was stable across two test kits so why was my tank 80 ppm four days and one 70% wc change ago? I think it's because I added 20 lbs of sand right before the wc. But any way I will keep on top of testing to see if this was a fluke or not, but I feel a little better for my fish now
 
There's no way more filtration can lower nitrates, becuase the filter is still part of the whole system. Any fish poop that goes in the filter decomposes in the filter, but its still going to add nitrate to the tank.
 
ozpkchris;2723140;2723140 said:
so it tested my nitrates for the first time today( the tank has been up and running 6mnths) the link 2 the setup is in my signature

its 180 gal

30 gal w/d appx 5 gallons of bioballs/some scrubbies-700 gph return

2 ac 110 - say 600 gph between the two

and a cheapo 500 gph canister

so about 10 x turnover

i do weekly 40 % water changes

my stock

1 12'' oscar

3 3-5" jd

2 green tex 2 6-7.5'' 1 3 in

2 3'' firemouths

2 1.5'' clown loaches

1 8'' com pleco (that i saved but i still hate

my nitrates are 80 PPM WTF

man am i over stocked or under filtered?

i guess im gonna beef up the water changes (btw this was right after a 50% wc)

maybe by a new test kit, but i never tested cause i figured i was fine.. man should i add more filtration

oh i feed bid
bout 1/2 a tea spoon in the am
and a table spoon at night
of cichlid gold

its just frustration
i just added some more sand yesterday 20lb of black moon sand maybe thats it

any way ill be retesting over the next couple days

:swear:
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If you haven't already, Ask yor trusted locl dealer about local water characteristics. consider an RODI filter. Got one for my discus tank, now use it on all! At least you start on sort of a level playing field. Next I believ in over filtering anway. Have 2 identical 125's 1 FX5, Undegravel with 4 607GPH poer heads and 2 Emperor 400's. Something like 35X turnover? Crazy? Maybe... But I occaisionally get lazy on water changes and hve had no problems! I do use nitrate/ammonia removal compounds in the filters. Fish are happy. By directing theb outflow of the 4 npower heads, you n reduce the current but they are turbulent tanks
 
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