So I did a nitrate test and it was really high, and I did about a 30% water change after seeing that and its still high. Any Ideas on how I could lower it without chemicals? I have plants and was wondering if they could be causing it to be high. Everything else in my test was just fine.
Nitrate level
- Thread starter acidburn470
- Start date
Plants actually help lower your nitrate levels. You can add more plants or do more water changes. I would do a 20% water change every day until your levels are at or below 40 ppm (20 ppm is better). I don't recommend too many large water changes (50%) unless your fish are showing severe signs of stress. Large water changes will alter your water chemistry too quickly, could disrupt your bateria levels and cause your tank to cycle again, and 50% changes are just really stressful on the fish. Think about how you would feel if you were in a small room with the water level rising with your air space slowly but steadily decreasing. Your fish feel the same way when their environment starts to shrink.
with big tanks and monsterfish 2 50% or 1 50% a week is ideal but for smaller tanks and fishes 20% ever day sounds good
Acidburn, try a different testing kit, if your kit is old or has been stored wrong it can give false positives. I have had ph tests tell me my 6.8ph tank was full of strong vinegar. plants help prevent nitrates from forming unless they are visibly dieing. Do you have adequete biomass in your filter?
what I believe he was saying is do you think that you have enough filtration? now do you have any inverts (shrimp, crayfish, lobster, etc.) if not the nitrate's should not do too much damage...
My filter is a biowheel filter thats set up for a larger tank cause my buddy told me to go one more up for safety. I dont have any inverts at all, and I just checked it again and it dropped down to about 40 so Im guessin I just needed to give it more time after my water change to check it again. I dont know though so I'll keep a close watch on it.
I agree with guppy buy or borrow a test kit... high nitrate lead's to stress in the fish stress will ferther cause other dieases to form in the fish also alge will grow like wild fire it feed 's off it and nasty green water !!!! your fish will need flashlight's to swim in your tank.... 
