Hit a road block :(

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H

HumanBean

Redtail Catfish
MFK Member
Nov 4, 2014
1,940
538
150
Toronto Ontario, Canada
My water parameters are messed up.

Ph 7.5
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 160ppm :(

It's a 90 gallon medium stocked tank running on 530 gallon / hour canister filter.

In filter i am using has all kind of bio media .

Bi Weekly filter maintenance. 1.5 weekly water changes 80%.

Established tank. Water is treated with prime.
Sparce feeding and I make sure food is gone in max 10 minutes if not its removed.

API master test kit. Checked water from two different locations in the tank. Also checked tap water and there are no nitrated in that.

Is there something I can add more to the filter or I should add another filter to aquarium.

Thanks
 
I've heard that if you check your water after adding prime that it can cause a false positive. Did you check your water after a water change or did you check it a few days later?
 
That sounds like a crazy level of nitrate, especially with 80% changes each week; would have to have an immensely heavy bioload to get that high that quickly.

I'm guessing what the previous poster said about prime causing false readings, if not; can you please list your stock?
 
What are your fish in the tank, and feeding schedule.

Also the nitrate test is the hardest to do correctly, and the api test kits are known for giving incorrect measurement.Also have you made sure it is measuring correctly by measuring off a two different known nitrate concentrations?

And measure the nitrates of the water coming out of your tap.
 
Hoplo said:
What are your fish in the tank, and feeding schedule.

Also the nitrate test is the hardest to do correctly, and the api test kits are known for giving incorrect measurement.Also have you made sure it is measuring correctly by measuring off a two different known nitrate concentrations?

And measure the nitrates of the water coming out of your tap.
Click to expand...
Yes I have done testing both on tap water and then two different nitrate concentrations.

Feeding is on Alternative days. pellets then defrosted fish in the evening thats it. And I am very strict on 10 minutes finish rule.

For api test kit. I can get a newer one if consensus is on false positive.

My stock is 1 pike cichlid . 2 African climbing perch . One paratilapia polleni all of these are 3 to 6 inch. One gar and 4 polys which are temporarily houses are 8 to 10
 
convict360 said:
That sounds like a crazy level of nitrate, especially with 80% changes each week; would have to have an immensely heavy bioload to get that high that quickly.

I'm guessing what the previous poster said about prime causing false readings, if not; can you please list your stock?
Click to expand...
Actually this reading left me flabbergasted :)
All other three readings are on the spot but this nitrate reading it a twist in the knickers.
 
get some pothos plants growing in the tank can help with the nitrates if they are still a problem. but of course they wont completely solve it. Most canisters can go a few months without being looked at or cleaned by the way. if youre disrupting the benefitial bacteria that may be the issues.
 
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