Nitrate level

[SJ-78]

My nitrate level is between 40ppm & 60ppm, how bad is this?

 

[Repz]

Safe ideal levels are 10-20 ppm imo, 40-60 is a tad high.. water change time

 

[Lupin]

Safe ideal levels are 10-20 ppm imo, 40-60 is a tad high.. water change time

Agreed. How often do you change the water? This indicates you need to do more water changes.

 

[eskimo]

and what is your filtration ?

 

[Pharaoh]

I agree. time for a water change

 

[SJ-78]

That was after a 40% water change, 80 gallon tank 2 AC 110's and a 20 gal wet/dry filter (pot scrubbies,bio balls,biomax media) also a AC 80 powerhead with a quick filter attatchment

 

[tcarswell]

Have you changed your filter media lately ? Whats the nitrates out of the tap ? What test kit are you using ??

 

[Bderick67]

That was after a 40% water change, 80 gallon tank 2 AC 110's and a 20 gal wet/dry filter (pot scrubbies,bio balls,biomax media) also a AC 80 powerhead with a quick filter attatchment

But what are you water change intervals. As long as your tap water doesn't have high amounts of nitrates, you can cut the levels in half with a 50% W/C. You will then need to figure out how much the levels rise over a weeks time. If you can control them with weekly 50% W/Cs then great, if too heavily stocked you may have to do a extra one evry week.