Nitrate difference between ~75F and 80F

[FreshyFresh]

I had a discussion going recently on another board in regards to a heater failure I had and the fact I ran my oscar and severum tank at about 74-75F, which is on the cool side for these fish. After installing a new heater, I gradually brought this tank up to ~80F to try it, and had it running there for about 2 weeks / water changes. Without changing anything but the water temp, I now see a dark orange nitrate test tube on day 7, as opposed to the light orange I'd see with water temps around ~75F.

I know it's no break-through, and is a known fact warmer water temps increase the metabolic rate on fish among other things. It's just a neat verification I thought I'd share.

I'll be going back to ~75F!

 

[Drstrangelove]

I had a discussion going recently on another board in regards to a heater failure I had and the fact I ran my oscar and severum tank at about 74-75F, which is on the cool side for these fish. After installing a new heater, I gradually brought this tank up to ~80F to try it, and had it running there for about 2 weeks / water changes. Without changing anything but the water temp, I now see a dark orange nitrate test tube on day 7, as opposed to the light orange I'd see with water temps around ~75F.

I know it's no break-through, and is a known fact warmer water temps increase the metabolic rate on fish among other things. It's just a neat verification I thought I'd share.

I'll be going back to ~75F!

Nitrates come from nitrites which comes from ammonia which comes from nitrogen which comes from protein which comes from food.

It's hard to say why you had 2 different readings among the dozens of other variables that exist, but temperature seems unlikely.

In other words, it's like saying protein + heat = more protein or nitrogen + heat = more nitrogen.

Heat does not increase the amount of molecules of a chemical or element. (In fact of course, it does the opposite in water, since the solubility of air is decreased as temperature increases, which is why as temperature increases there is less oxygen and less nitrogen in the water.)

The absolute amount of nitrogen in the tank will be less, not more, all other things being equal, if temperature increases.

Anyway, maybe a chemist could explain how this works!

 

[FreshyFresh]

All I can figure is higher temps can increase a fish's metabolism. Given fish expel ammonia from their gills during normal respiration, if respiration is increased, maybe ammonia output is, thereby increasing nitrates.

 

[pharmaecopia]

My fish tend to eat more when the tank is warmer. Digestion occurs faster when the temps are warmer.

Makes sense to me.

 

[Skalper666]

My fish tend to eat more when the tank is warmer. Digestion occurs faster when the temps are warmer.
Makes sense to me.

I was gonna guess the fish were eating less at the cooler Temps and were just more sluggish.

 

[Drstrangelove]

All I can figure is higher temps can increase a fish's metabolism. Given fish expel ammonia from their gills during normal respiration, if respiration is increased, maybe ammonia output is, thereby increasing nitrates.

My fish tend to eat more when the tank is warmer. Digestion occurs faster when the temps are warmer.

Makes sense to me.

I was gonna guess the fish were eating less at the cooler Temps and were just more sluggish.

Exactly. If you feed more, then there will be more nitrates. Temperature does not increase the nitrates, the fish owner does (by feeding more.)

But there's no reason to feed more unless one decides to do so. Fish use a very small amount of food for movement because they are highly efficient, and in a tank, there is so little space that they use very little energy. People often do raise temps because they want their fish to eat more and grow faster and not be sluggish.

Raising temps and not changing the amount of food will keep nitrates constant (all other things being equal) and simply cause the fish to grow a bit slower.

 

[FreshyFresh]

Raising temps and not changing the amount of food will keep nitrates constant (all other things being equal) and simply cause the fish to grow a bit slower.

Like I said in the original post, the only thing I changed was the water temp. Feeding schedule and amount stayed the same. I'm the only one that manages my tanks.

I feed a light amount of hikari bio gold plus, 5x a week. An amount that's gobbled in seconds. Sometimes small amounts of freeze dried meal worms, shrimp or fresh romaine lettuce, but none of this was given over the 2 week test period.

Would this scenario be repeatable? I have no idea. I was just sharing what I experienced here.

 

[Skalper666]

Regardless I do not recommend going back to 75 F. I wouldnt keep them in colder conditions so u have to change the water less. They are living beings and it can't be comfortable running it at the lowest temp they can withstand. As I write this I am freezing my @ss of in Canada, and I can relate.