i do water changes every 5 days. the water levels are perfect i.e nitrite, ammonia, ph, but the nitrate levels never seem to go under the 30ppm range. i know that is not dangerously high, but i want it lower than 20 if i can. i know i need more filtration, i run 2 404 fluval canisters. i thought that the frequent water changes would make up for it. any suggestions would be great.
Nitrate Levels Too High
- Thread starter scottchristian
- Start date
scottchristian said:
Wow, that should work. Maybe use a different brand of test kit or take a sample to your LFS and see what they say. Maybe your test kit is faulty. Try vacuuming the substrate and see if that helps. With that filtration and water changes every 5 days, that should have your nitrates at 0. Nitrates are usually at 0, nitrites can be above 0 to a small level. The other suggestions is to thoroughly clean 1 of your filters and see if it will repopulate it with the bacteria. Just suggestions...good luck.
my water changes arent done until the rocks are spotless. the tank looks immaculent people cant believe its that clean with all those messy pigs i got in there. ive thought that about the test kit, it is very old and was given to me by someone who had it for who knows how long, and never used it 
ive never actually tested the tap water, but when i moved the tank and emptied it then refilled it i tested it. that was the only time the nitrate was at zero. i think that im going to take a sample down to the lfs today and see what they say..am i correct in thinking that 30ppm is not too high?
im glad to know that it is harmless. i just dont see how possible to get the level down to nothing unless i change the water every day. thanks 4 the replys 
Howdy,
30 mg/l is not low, but it is still okay. First, test your tap water for nitrates. Increased filtration will not reduce your nitrate levels, after all, it's the beneficial bacteria that generate it. There are four major ways to reduce nitrate levels:
1) water changes (with low nitrates in tap water or use RO)
2) plants (especially floating plants)
3) denitrator (a slow-flow anaerobic filtration)
4) reduction of feeding if you feed a lot.
Good luck,
HarleyK
30 mg/l is not low, but it is still okay. First, test your tap water for nitrates. Increased filtration will not reduce your nitrate levels, after all, it's the beneficial bacteria that generate it. There are four major ways to reduce nitrate levels:
1) water changes (with low nitrates in tap water or use RO)
2) plants (especially floating plants)
3) denitrator (a slow-flow anaerobic filtration)
4) reduction of feeding if you feed a lot.
Good luck,
HarleyK
Of the immediate fixes I saw above the two that stick out are both by Dragon. check you test kit, take it with you to the lfs and compare your results to theirs, and see if your filter needs cleaning. not the media, the housing itself, I had that happen with a hangon.