nitrate-water change relationship.

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
If I slack off on water changes, (after say 1 week without), my nitrate slowly level rises to 10ppm and or slightly above. There are heavily planted tanks in-line with non-planted, and along with the aquatic plants, have been using pothos for at least 20 years.
I also kept log books for years when I was a working as a chemist, and would do daily testing using a photo spectrometer, before and after water changes to determine what regime I would need to reach my target of 2-5ppm.
daily tests included pH, ammonia (because my tap water is disinfected with chloramine), turbidity, conductivity/salinity, hardness, and alkalinity to help determine any of even the slightest variations.
 
Yikes! to early in the morning for this, i avoid all this by doing 90% or fin level water change every Saturday on all tanks along with a good vacuum and filter cleaning schedule.
 
Yeah I do similar on a Sunday pops but on a heavily stocked tank you will get a massive fluctuation between, more frequent smaller changes would be best but its simply hectic life that prevents me from doing this, I dont get to sit down till 8pm due to our young son and im in bed by 10 and up at 530am...
 
Does anyone know a rough figure for a 12 inch tall bodied cichlid in a 100g tank?

Duane, you are truely one of the most dedicated hobbiests I know, great job.... UK tap water would drive you insane!-)
 
its gets easier when they are older, have 6 kids myself, well easier as in you are not chasing a rug rat, not so much with keeping them on task.
but certainly understand where you are coming from.
 
pops said:
Yikes! to early in the morning for this, i avoid all this by doing 90% or fin level water change every Saturday on all tanks along with a good vacuum and filter cleaning schedule.
Click to expand...

Lol, my thoughts exactly. I just keep up with my water changes :D
 
im in the uk its 1700pm here!-)
 
sooo... on oscarfishlover.com they seem to have a rule of a minimum of 50% water change for 1 oscar in a 55g tank? doesnt say a size on the oscar but im assuming an average 12 inch oscar, this should keep the nitrates below 20ppm apparently?

does that sound right, im assuming the site is going on usa water average nitrate content too?
 
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