Nitrate Level

[sAroock]

What Nitrate Level is considered 'very good' for CA/SA cichlids.

Internet research is pretty board "hardly fishes, keep < 40ppm".

I manage to get my medium stocked tank to read 10ppm, this is within range but will it keep algae at bay? I alrdy have BBA, i dont want more.

 

[ar0wan]

Your photo period will affect algae moar than Nitrates
10ppm is good water quality the lower the better for fish

 

[J-P]

algae is simply a light nutrient imbalance.. reduce one or the other or both. With Nitrates at 10, then your lighting is the key issue.

But typically yes.. at 40 ppm you do a water change for nitrates. That is the only readable measure of how "dirty" a tank is.