nitrates per week

[FSM]

I've been thinking about tank sizes and oscars. How much nitrates does an adult oscar produce per week? (obviously ppm depends on tank volume)

 

[pacu mom]

Oscars are large messy fish. I don't know how much nitrates are generated in the nitrogen cycle from an oscar. I do know that oscars do best with nitrate levels kept below 20 ppm.

 

[duke33]

I've been thinking about tank sizes and oscars. How much nitrates does an adult oscar produce per week? (obviously ppm depends on tank volume)

That would have to be a VERY contolled experiment. Lets just say LOTS, I would'nt call it nitates though..just pure waste!

 

[johnptc]

nitrates would be measured in grams so not to depend on tank volume...........you can measure it by the tank size, nitrate ppm and how much a measured water change effects it.

house of sam produces about 400 grams of nitrate a day....

also it could also be calculated based on the grams of protein fed per week

 

[crisper]

It is going to depend on how much is being fed, and of course the size of the oscar as well.

 

[FSM]

how about I put it this way: If you have a solo adult oscar, and you check your nitrates regularly, how much do they increase between water changes?

I realize there are numerous factors involved, you don't have to tell me.

 

[pacu mom]

how about I put it this way: If you have a solo adult oscar, and you check your nitrates regularly, how much do they increase between water changes?

I realize there are numerous factors involved, you don't have to tell me.

That should be easy enough to find out. Check your nitrates after a water change and check your nitrates just before the next water change.

If you don't change out enough water often enough, the nitrates will soon be higher than you want them.

Example: Say you start out at 0 ppm nitrate, and you change out 50% of the water once a week. And at the first water change, the nitrates were at 15 ppm....(that would mean there is enough waste to get nitrates to 15 ppm in a week) Let's say you also decide that you want to keep the nitrates no higher than 20 ppm at all times. In your zeal, you decide to to do your first 50% water change at 15 ppm and get the nitrates really low.

After that first water change, the nitrates will be at 7.5 ppm. At the next weekly water change the nitrates will be at 22.5 ppm (oh dear! we're already over the magic 20 ppm!) Let's say you keep to the weekly 50% water changes for a whole month:

After 2nd water change, the tank is at 11.5 ppm

3rd water change.....11.5 ppm + 15 ppm = 26.25 ppm (13.12 after change)

4th water change.....13.12 ppm + 15 ppm = 28.12 ppm (14.06 after change)

In this scenario, we did not manage keep the nitrates below 20 ppm. To keep the nitrates below 20 ppm, we would have to do larger water changes, and/or change the water more frequently.

If you keep a log of your water changes and water testing results, you will very quickly be able to determine the frequency and amount of water you need to change out.

Here's my log sheet. Of course, ammonia and nitrites will always be 0 ppm in a cycled tank. I used to always get a 2nd nitrate reading after the water change. After keeping a log for a while, you will know exactly what you have to do to keep the nitrates low in your tank. (I very seldom check ammonia and nitrites, but always do it after a power outage)

For us, doing 2 water changes a week is inconvenient, so we do weekly water changes, but change out more water.