how bad is 160 nitrate reading? all my fish still alive?

[mgk]

i never did a water change, i just add water when it goes low

well thats why its so high. from now on you should do regular water changes.

also make sure your using dechlorinator(i like prime).
if your having trouble with the extra work, look into a python siphon or something similar like a hose that goes from your tap to your tank.

 

[IrnGynt]

I'd check your canisters too. They become nitrate factories when they're filled with gunk.

160 or greater, fish can survive but I'd imagine they are rather miserable. Shoot for 40 or less with routine water changes and your fish will thank you.

 

[T@nkbuster]

Get a test kit too! Good luck!

 

[Deaths Sting]

i never did a water change, i just add water when it goes low

blasphemy....lol

 

[Miguel4u2]

i never did a water change, i just add water when it goes low

I don't mean to be rude but you have quite a few posts here but you have never know about water changes? did the guy at the pet store also check the ammonia and nitrite?, do you?

 

[Sab_Fan]

thanks for the heads up ive been doing 50% water changes for the past 2 days

I'm glad to hear you started doing changes, but I would have made several smaller changes over a longer period of time

if everything works out, great, but your nitrates probably got to 160 over a period of several weeks/months, so your fish have been slowly acclimating to it

by doing 50% water changes over two days, you may have brought the nitrates down too quickly, which might cause problems for the fish, since they had adapted to a higher level

but like I said, if it works out, then never mind . . .

 

[irishfan]

I dont know if it was mentioned but if you do not do water changes and now are, I hope you are gravel vaccing. SPecially after that long...pooop city

 

[Bderick67]

I'd check your canisters too. They become nitrate factories when they're filled with gunk.

That is what they are supposed to do. Process ammonia into nitrite then to nitrates. If anything having a gunked up filter would inhibit the production of nitrates, which would not be good.

 

[golcondorus]

this is clearly someone who should not own fish, irresponsible crap, the store was right, they shouldnt refund you at all

 

[IrnGynt]

That is what they are supposed to do. Process ammonia into nitrite then to nitrates. If anything having a gunked up filter would inhibit the production of nitrates, which would not be good.

Correct. But if canisters go for an extended period of time without being serviced an excessive amount of gunk builds up thus producing an excessive amount of Nitrates. The same as letting an excessive amount of gunk build up in your aquarium.