Nitrate test

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Please don't taste your water or rely on intuition to read your water parameters.

The best test kits are the lab-grade kind that cost hundreds of dollars. For the less serious aquarium hobbyist, API is as good as it gets for the price.
 
Jc1119 said:
Sorry, but that just not true. Many local water supplies have high levels of nitrates. I too have kept fish for over 30 years and having lived in 4 different states i can tell you all water supplies are not created equal. The plant idea is great, but would have little effect in my mbuna setup which sits at a ph of about 8.3. Very little plant life in Lake Malawi.....

Plus testing for nitrates will give you an idea of how often you should do regular water changes depending on how you stock. Heavy stockers need more frequent changes than light stockers and a good test kit will tell you wether weekly changes are enough without guessing. And for some of us who breed nitrate sensitive fish such as loricariids, guessing and hoping for the best isn't good enough
Click to expand...
I keep Malawians and Tanganyikans and have no problems growing plants in their tanks (anubias, bolbitis, java fern, etc.). But that is not the issue. Obviously if you have high nitrates in your tap water, water changes are not going to reduce the nitrate level in the tank below the nitrate level of the tap water. So what is the point of testing for nitrates if your tap water has high nitrate levels? The goal would be to reduce the nitrate level in the tank by adding aquatic plants, or terrestrial plants growing hydroponically in the tank, or using a nitrate reactor or reductor. Finally as to water changes, they should be done on a regular basis. Heavily stocked tanks should have their population thinned out. But if you must have a heavily stocked tank, then you must do more frequent water changes. Don't need to test for nitrates to tell you that you need a water change. Happy fishkeeping.
 
joe jaskot said:
I keep Malawians and Tanganyikans and have no problems growing plants in their tanks (anubias, bolbitis, java fern, etc.). But that is not the issue. Obviously if you have high nitrates in your tap water, water changes are not going to reduce the nitrate level in the tank below the nitrate level of the tap water. So what is the point of testing for nitrates if your tap water has high nitrate levels? The goal would be to reduce the nitrate level in the tank by adding aquatic plants, or terrestrial plants growing hydroponically in the tank, or using a nitrate reactor or reductor. Finally as to water changes, they should be done on a regular basis. Heavily stocked tanks should have their population thinned out. But if you must have a heavily stocked tank, then you must do more frequent water changes. Don't need to test for nitrates to tell you that you need a water change. Happy fishkeeping.
Click to expand...

who said anything about reducing them? L46 zebras can actually spawn more frequently at certain elevated nitrate levels and plants won't help elevate them. I need a test kit to let me know if they are high enough to induce spawning, aside from the fact that a proper zebra setup includes NO lighting and a tank temp of 86-88 degrees, so plants wouldn't do to well in the dark and the heat. It's nice to know you have luck with plants in your african setups, but I prefer more of a biotope design and I've yet to see many plants in lake Malawi. Rocks, sand and fish is what I prefer.

Additionally, the point of testing your water supply occasionally is because it doesn't stay the same from season to season, or sometimes even month to month depending on where you live. If you breed certain species that respond to a specific level of nitrate, wether it be low or high, then guesswork doesn't really work. I'm glad it's worked for you, but i prefer not to assume things.
 
Having read some of the original poster's previous posts, he is concerned about elevated nitrate levels due to the fish he keeps. He is not trying to breed fish that require a specific nitrate level. Just trying to help out by suggesting ways to reduce his nitrates.
 
joe jaskot said:
Having read some of the original poster's previous posts, he is concerned about elevated nitrate levels due to the fish he keeps. He is not trying to breed fish that require a specific nitrate level. Just trying to help out by suggesting ways to reduce his nitrates.
Click to expand...

Totally understand where your coming from. i didn't look at previous posts. Just offering advice as to the kit in question in this thread only. My apologies if i seemed to be argumentative. Best of luck from a fellow New Jersian!! (Hackettstown)
 
I don't have high nitrates, but do stock high bio loads in some of my tanks so I like to keep on top of my levels. Also in some of my planted tanks I am having too low of nitrate issues.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom