NEED HELP!!

[creepyoldguy]

Do you realize that many municipalities require only a max 20ppm nitrate w many wells being often being higher? Unless you're using ro, I'd say to let your nitrate test kit sit a while longer before you read it.

And having nitrates under 100 means they could be 1 (otherwise the nitrogen cycle is not complete) to 99. None of which would stress fish out that bad Unless there are major fluctuations in his parameters

 

[Jon M]

@ creepyoldguy I'm assuming the nitrates comment is addresses at me? Sure, that municipal water standards being capped at 20ppm doesn't surprise me at all. I've know a few people that have had some what higher nitrate readings out of the tap which makes it a bit harder for them to keep their nitrates below 20ppm. My test kit doesn't need to sit any longer than it does... All my test results are accurate on all my tanks. I've let it sit for over 5 minutes before reading which is the minimum time required in the API instructions and sometimes I'll just let it be for a while and check it 30-60 minutes later. Sometimes even longer. Still same results.

Of course I'm quite aware below 100 means 1-99. You don't need to make rude comments like that. When someone says below 100 it leads me to believe it's somewhere slightly below or around 100 just like if someone says below 50 I'd assume it's likely somewhere below but close to or near 50. Any amount of nitrates above 20ppm can easily cause stress to a fish in an aquarium depending on the fish and other factors and I've seen it be the cause of many fish issues that were resolved once the nitrates in the water were lowered to a much more appropriate level of under 20ppm with wc's.

 

[creepyoldguy]

Nothing rude about my post at all. It's just a little unrealistic for most people to keep nitrates that low when their source water is at least that high. That's good that you can keep them that low. I can't, and I have healthy rays that eat a boatload. Im currently raising a tigrinus that was 3.5" on march 27 and is now a hair over 6.5". All in nitrates higher than 20.

 

[creepyoldguy]

Furthermore, consistency is key in hone aquariums.

 

[Jon M]

Nothing rude about my post at all. It's just a little unrealistic for most people to keep nitrates that low when their source water is at least that high. That's good that you can keep them that low. I can't, and I have healthy rays that eat a boatload. Im currently raising a tigrinus that was 3.5" on march 27 and is now a hair over 6.5". All in nitrates higher than 20.

Pointing out below 100 could be 1-99 is quite sarcastic... Anyhow, of course it's unrealistic for people with those higher nitrate levels from the tap. Of course everyone's nitrate levels from the tap aren't at the municipal max of 20ppm. Like I said, I've known a few people that have had them pretty high (not quite 20ppm though more like 12)out of the tap but I've known a lot more that's nitrate readings are much lower. For instance mine are below 10ppm at my current apartment. Also, saying the municipal is maxed at 20ppm I'd hope no one would have problems keeping them in their aquarium MUCH lower than close to triple digits in ppm.

 

[creepyoldguy]

Theres a member on here, zoodiver, who talks about nitrates a decent amount and is quite experienced. Higher nitrates are not nearly as harmful as mist think, especially when even in the higher double digits


I've kept fish on 3 different water sources, one being city water, and all nitrates were at least 20ppm or a bit higher. This is using API which is no lab equipment but still gives an approx reading, and once acclimated, all my fish have done just great

More importantly are things such as hardness or tds that may have changed due to rainfall or lack there of or different treatments in the water supply that have effects on fish

 

[kdrun76]

Nitrates below 20 is NOT an unrealistic goal, its an appropriate one.

Nitrates under 10 is even better.

Federal EPA standards are for no more than 10 ppm of nitrogen in the water as measured by nitrate. (This is true in the UK as well.) 10ppm of Nitrogen is equal to 40ppm of nitrate, so tap water can still be within federal limits and be more than double with I consider acceptable in a fish tank. Feel free to keep your nitrates at what ever level makes you happy. I understand the toxicity they bring and the effects of elevated DOC's in my water and choose to change enough water to keep them well below the federal max allowed.

 

[creepyoldguy]

I never said it was unrealistic, but how are people who do 50% w/c weekly supposed reach 5ppm when they're replacing with source water of 20+ppm?

So where you're getting you're info was different than mine or I read it wrong, but you're level says higher. Either way, if having nitrates at 50 ppm are inhibiting or harming fish growth or behavior has yet to be seen here

 

[Jon M]

@ kdrun76 Thank you! Jesus... Everything is an argument on these threads lately...

@creepyoldguy You certainly did say it was unrealistic.

It's just a little unrealistic for most people to keep nitrates that low when their source water is at least that high.

And you're just using a "WHAT IF?" to argue man. Jesus... "Well it's unrealistic of your tap water is already 20ppm" SURE dude, I never said anything about keeping it below 20ppm if your tap water is already 20ppm. I said "Typically anything below 20ppm is at a level it won't harm the fish, though I like to try to keep mine below 10ppm." No one said anything about people with tap water that already reads 20ppm. I certainly never did. I'm sorry everywhere you lived has the absolute maximum nitrates possible in the tap water but that's certainly not everyone. Glad you can manage it with your fish. Why are you trying to start an argument about this??? A simple "I disagree that nitrates above 20ppm will have any ill effect on fish in your aquarium and some people have higher nitrates out of the tap that makes it harder to manage them" would have sufficed. Everyone just wants to argue on here lately.

 

[creepyoldguy]

Ugh..... You just stated the point I was proving all along. For the people that have source water w nitrates in the 20 to 40s it is an unrealistic goal to lower it! What you quoted was exactly true!

I'm not staring an argument over this at all. You're turning into one

Simply disagreeing with you that higher nitrates aren't harmful to fish isn't good enough especially when the EPA sets their standards at higher than what you're levels are, meaning that there are plenty of us w higher nitrTes than 20ppm especially the ones on well water that never get checked

Not everything turns into an argument on here. If you're getting worked up over this, I'm sorry your simple. I enjoy sharing my experiences. That is my experience- that I keep and have kept some of the more sensetive species in nitrates higher than your 10ppm