high nitrates... for a long time....

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R

rxracer

Candiru
MFK Member
Jun 26, 2006
376
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its a secret
ok got a quick question. ever since i have set up my P tank the nitrates have always been high. no matter how many water changes or anything. my tap water is good, and i live out in the country so we have our own well. i just purchsed a eheim 2028 and it should be arriving next week, will this filter help with the nitrate leves? if not what can i do to get them lower? thanks
Rob

PS. my LFS said not to worry about the nitrates...
 
Nitrate levels over 60 ppm are all you really need to worry about. Your new filter will do nothing, it is only a filter. What matters is what you have for media. A standard bio filter will add nitrates, a mech filter can reduce phosphates a minute amount, and adds to your nitrates a little as well. The only good ways to get rid of nitrates are 1) water changes 2) live plants 3) chemical filtration.
 
well i am ashamed to say they max out a dip strip.. i was told never to worry about those.
what kind of chemical filtration can i do to reduce my nitrates?
right now i just have 2 peguin 330 bio wheels on a 75 with 4 RBP
is there some kind of carbon... or something i can add.
thanks
Rob
 
Carbon is a mechanical filter media. It will do nothing for your nitrates. I do not recommend the use of chemical medias, but if you want to that is your choice. There is seachem's de*nitrate, and purigen, and then a slew of different other varieties. Water changes are your best method, what is your WC schedule?
 
well i usally do like a 40-50% every week or so... bout everytime i vaccuum. th eonly carppy part is that i havent been able to vaccuum lately beacuse my feeder convicts bred in the tank and i have about 70 fry i there. and the substrate is staying clean..
 
If you can't gravel vac don't worry about it too much. I would just do 3 25% water changes every week at the minimum. The more water changes you do the faster the con fry can grow. Better water quality = faster growth. 50% every week or more is good, but I'd up it a lot.
 
it just sucks hauling 5g of water at a time from the faucet... casue my python cant reach any spickets..... do you think i should put some prime in to help out?
 
The solution to chemical imbalances in your aquarium should never be solved by the addition of more chemicals as a first line of defense. Go to your local hardware store, and get 25, 50, 75 or 100 feet of 1/2 ID 5/8 OD vinyl tubing. Take the pythons tubing off, and replace it with the new vinyl. Problem solved.
 
want to lower nitrates 2 ways

1) whatever substrate you have change it to a aquatic soil type
you need about 3 inches deep
get some MT snails
and NEVER gravel vac

2) setup a planted sump with a grow-light
i like floating plants
 
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