How high are your nitrates

[bigspizz]

I'm with you, Joey. I've got 5 Oscars and I'd be down to NO Oscars if I let their nitrates get as high as that website says! That's ludicrous. Nitrates that high are dangerous. My Oscars get 2 big water changes a week on their understocked tanks, nitrates hit 5 ppm the day of their water change. My other 18 tanks hit 7-8 ppm before their weekly water change. Until I ever joined forums I didn't realize so many people let their nitrates get so high. We choose our battles and water quality is mine.

So until then you are saying you have "trace" nitrates. If you can do it without plants on 20 tanks (which is another stretch) Why would you assume it to be "rubbish" when done with plants????

 

[Danger_Chicken]

I agree with cassharper. Mangroves and floating plants like water lettace are nitrate eating machines. I've got 6 mangrove in a refug. I'm told they take about 3 months to settle and start working but mine have only been in for 6 weeks and are growing new leaves and roots already. I need to test my tap water for nitrates. I went up to 20ppm after my water change last night. I'm fairly over stocked with 5 oscars, 6 silver dollars and a jag and 2 more oscars growing out to join the crowd. I'm also guilty of over feeding.

 

[Danger_Chicken]

So until then you are saying you have "trace" nitrates. If you can do it without plants on 20 tanks (which is another stretch) Why would you assume it to be "rubbish" when done with plants????

He did say his tanks were understocked.

 

[bigspizz]

He did say his tanks were understocked.

OK.....Are you assuming I missed that in his post?

 

[cassharper]

play nice kids. It's not the ones who are speaking on the side of reason that are wrong, only the ones making moronic blanket states without (presumably) any knowledge of aquatic botany, and more importantly, aquatic ecosystems as a whole.

 

[polish]

Looking at my water test log, yes I keep one.

75gFW - 5ppm 9/23
20gSW - 5ppm 9/23
20gFW - 5ppm 9/21
20gFW#2 - 5ppm 9/21

So as of last week 5ppm. Sometimes I've seen 10-20ppm but it's usually before a WC.

 

[bigspizz]

play nice kids. It's not the ones who are speaking on the side of reason that are wrong, only the ones making moronic blanket states without (presumably) any knowledge of aquatic botany, and more importantly, aquatic ecosystems as a whole.

Kids? You lost me there pal....

 

[cassharper]

It's a figure of speech! All respect intended.

I'd never insult someone who tried to make this place better, especially someone as dedicated to it as you.

 

[Danger_Chicken]

OK.....Are you assuming I missed that in his post?

Why so combative? I was agreeing with you on the plants

But to answer your question, yes I was assuming missed it - You said it was a stretch that he could keep nitrates low on 20 unplanted tanks. He didn't say trace he said 5ppm on Oscar tankd and 7-8ppm on the others. If they are understocked and getting regular water changes it's not a stretch at all. Without going back and reading every post I think it was the people with planeted tanks that said trace readings. I guess that would depend on the definition of trace.

 

[cassharper]

Why so combative? I was agreeing with you on the plants

But to answer your question, yes I was assuming missed it - You said it was a stretch that he could keep nitrates low on 20 unplanted tanks. He didn't say trace he said 5ppm on Oscar tankd and 7-8ppm on the others. If they are understocked and getting regular water changes it's not a stretch at all. Without going back and reading every post I think it was the people with planeted tanks that said trace readings. I guess that would depend on the definition of trace.

Just to clarify on the trace thing, that is below the measurable amount on a standard reagent test kit. For mine that is below 1ppm (I think)