Nitrate Change

[packer43064]

Hey guys, I have a question about WC and nitrates.

I'm moving into an apartment and want to try to keep the weekly WC down to a minimum. We live in the country now so we don't even pay a water bill so weekly changes doesn't even matter.

I don't want my nitrates over 40ppm but can I just change it when it gets to 40ppm. For the three larger tanks it gets to 20ppm in one week so 40ppm would probably happen in the second week. The 20 long is only at 5ppm in the second week.

I know more than nitrates gets change with a WC but realistically how long can I wait for a WC if I wanted to wait till the tanks hit 40ppm. I also do weekly gravel vacs regardless the nitrate ppm.

 

[Pharaoh]

You would probably be OK to wait the 2 weeks, but there is always the thought that you could lose growth rate, size, etc.

 

[packer43064]

Thanks Pharoah, I can handle the risks of waiting two weeks.

Anyone else.

 

[Toby_H]

It is very true that water changes reduces a lot more than nitrates...

But these 'other things' are produced by our fish, just like nitrates. It is generally accepted that these 'other things' build up at similar rates to nitrates.

So if you have a lightly stocked tank whose nitrates rise slowly... it is logical to believe that these 'other things' increase at a similarly slow rate...

Just like if we have an overstocked tank, we logically believe they quickly increase, just like the nitrates...


I commonly suggest, and hear others commonly suggest, to monitor nitrates to determine when a water change is needed. I truly believe this statement and if it takes a month for your nitrates to reach a level where you need to do a water change, then that tank would only need a water change once a month...