Nitrate problem - please help

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bonesb66

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MFK Member
Feb 1, 2010
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Birmingham
Hi MFK,

I have an ongoing problem with nitrates in my tank.

It is a 7 x 2 x 2 = 210G

Stock is;

3x Mono @ 17"
1x Pinima @ 17"
2x Mono @ 15 (possibly selling these)
1x Orino @ 12"
3x IT @ 10" (selling these)

I measure my nitrates with the test kit where you hold it by the light and you have the card strip and match the colour (is this the best test?)

Anyway, i measured 80PPM last Sunday, did 50 - 60 percent water change Monday (nitrates the same), did the same volume water change Wednesday (nitrates the same), did the same volume again on Friday (nitrates the same) - i got my friend to look to see if its me being to strict.

He said its possible 40PPM but its hard to distinguish accurately which it is - its certainly between the 40 - 80 though.

I tested tap water which comes back at 20PPM - if i add a drop of seachem prime (which i use) this gives a nitrate reading of tap water at 0PPM

I just dont know how to get it low.

Please help - am i making some noobish mistake?

P.S. Filtration is 1x FX5 & 1x Allpondsolutions which is 2K LPH, Ammonia & Nitrites @ 0
 
You have big messy fish in a 210 with nitrates in your tap water, don't know how much you can do with water changes at this point. Theoretically if your tap always has 20ppm nitrates, the lowest your tank could ever be is 20ppm, even with a 100% water change. Since cycled tanks always have a measurable amount of nitrates, it will be more than 20ppm all the time.
Have you looked into the pothos and other aquaponics threads in the setup section? I think that would be your best bet. Do you have a sump? Throw a crap load of pothos roots in it and a light down there.


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
 
First:is the test kit any good?
Do you have an algee problem?
Keep the tank clean,do your water changes and try putting some plants in to help reduce,high nitrates over a long period will harm the fish,but you can get it under control,try googleing
It,theres alot of good info on the net


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
 
Thanks for replies.

I dont think plants are an option, i dont have a sump and the tank is in my bedroom so sump i want to avoid (had one before and was seriously noisy)

Not sure what pothos and other aquaponics are, are they plants? I will google them.

Would using RO water have any effect on things?
 
Sell the 2 mono's and the IT's. You have a lot of big fish in that 210. Selling the fish and adding another fx5 would be ideal.
 
The monos just go wild hence plants are not an option.

I have plastic plants which are pinned down by rocks and they just tear them out whilst feeding - they smash my FX5 uptake off the glass and always take the cover off it from hitting it that hard - i can't even fill the tank up because of how they jump whilst i feed.

Yes i think i will part with the 2 mono and the 3 IT - would another FX5 actually help with nitrates though? Ammonia and nitrite is at nil so i wouldnt need any help converting it?

Any thoughts on the RO water?
 
I have been battling nitrates with my catfish for a while, same deal as yours, big messy fish. The only thing that I have found that helps is plants. Like you, my plants get tore up by the cats. Have lost hundreds of dollars worth of plants. Within the last 2 weeks I started adding moss balls. They require little light and suck up nitrates. They are a form of freshwater macroalgae. I put 4 in the 125gal and it cut the nitrates in half. Will add a few more to in and the 150 as they become available. Before, my nitrates were reading 120ppm+ even with weekly water changes. Now they stay around 40ppm, hence still need a few more balls. They work and look good and add only minimal care time. Good luck.
 
bonesb66 said:
The monos just go wild hence plants are not an option.
Click to expand...

They will only chew on the pothos once and get sick then they will leave it alone.

if you check my sig I have run plant filtration and mecanical for almost 6 months now. It works with pothos or pothos vine all of my plants are 0/0/0 acrost the test. with the exeption being saturday morning because I feed all the tanks my own feeders every friday night.

Can you post up a pic of your tank and setup and we might be able to come up with and idea to help you.
 
bonesb66 said:
Hi MFK,

I have an ongoing problem with nitrates in my tank.

It is a 7 x 2 x 2 = 210G

Stock is;

3x Mono @ 17"
1x Pinima @ 17"
2x Mono @ 15 (possibly selling these)
1x Orino @ 12"
3x IT @ 10" (selling these)

I measure my nitrates with the test kit where you hold it by the light and you have the card strip and match the colour (is this the best test?)

Anyway, i measured 80PPM last Sunday, did 50 - 60 percent water change Monday (nitrates the same), did the same volume water change Wednesday (nitrates the same), did the same volume again on Friday (nitrates the same) - i got my friend to look to see if its me being to strict.

He said its possible 40PPM but its hard to distinguish accurately which it is - its certainly between the 40 - 80 though.

I tested tap water which comes back at 20PPM - if i add a drop of seachem prime (which i use) this gives a nitrate reading of tap water at 0PPM

I just dont know how to get it low.

Please help - am i making some noobish mistake?

P.S. Filtration is 1x FX5 & 1x Allpondsolutions which is 2K LPH, Ammonia & Nitrites @ 0
Click to expand...
Hey Ya Bones the test strips and kits i am afraid are just not all that acurate ...How are your fish acting for you ???? do you see sub par colors ???? slugish behavior if you see it you know the answer and you are not happy ...A happy fish they show ya Bro you know what i am talkin bout....
 
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