Pbass bioload

[CichlidDan]

I have a 90g with 7 pbass approx 2-3" each, there is also a 6-7" silver aro on the other side of a divider (parents thought it would be ok with the bass and just brought it home lol), the tank has been long established (several years), and I do about a 45% water change twice a week. Once in a while before a water change I will test the nitrate levels to see if I need to increase water changing frequency, the last few times I have found that nitrates are less than 10ppm. I decided that it may be the test kit not working properly so I tried it on a rubbermaid container that some pond fish stay in over the winter, which should gain nitrates rapidly. Before the water change it was at a much higher and expected level than the pbass tank, so I believe the test kit is working well but I just want to be sure. I feed them bloodworms 3x a day and feeders about 2x a week (working on getting the amount of feeders up) Is this normal for nitrate levels to be that low or is it probably because the testing kit I am using is not working properly? (the kit is about 8-9 months old)

 

[mjuniorc]

nitrates are always gonna show up... thats all the waste fish produce, some are good and some are bad... also it can be your bloodworms and feeders... IMO, your feeding way too much... but thats my opinion... make sure you keep up with your water changes if your feeding alot!!!

 

[CichlidDan]

I am definately concerned a lil though. I don't get in 3 bloodworm feedings a day a everyday of the week, some days only 1 feeding somedays none, but I thought that the nitrates would rise much quicker than they are because of the amount of high protein food the fish are getting. With two oscars and a green terror nitrates use to rise much quicker. Just concerned here, maybe I will get another testing kit to make sure things r good.

 

[mjuniorc]

I am definately concerned a lil though. I don't get in 3 bloodworm feedings a day a everyday of the week, some days only 1 feeding somedays none, but I thought that the nitrates would rise much quicker than they are because of the amount of high protein food the fish are getting. With two oscars and a green terror nitrates use to rise much quicker. Just concerned here, maybe I will get another testing kit to make sure things r good.

yes... thats is possibly another problem that i have mentioned above...
bloodworms that are not eaten... ruins the water parameters very quick... so, meaning... water changes, water changes, water changes..

 

[CichlidDan]

alright, I think I see what u mean now, correct me if I am still getting it wrong though lol, but here is what I am getting from it... just because nitrates aren't showing up right now when I do a test, doesn't mean that water quality isn't excellent because the bloodworms that are not eaten are having an effect and are basically waiting for me to get lazy and then the effects will be seen on the nitrate level. Either way I'm off to go switch up some water lol.

 

[Venom SS]

I have a 90g with 7 pbass approx 2-3" each, there is also a 6-7" silver aro on the other side of a divider (parents thought it would be ok with the bass and just brought it home lol), the tank has been long established (several years), and I do about a 45% water change twice a week. Once in a while before a water change I will test the nitrate levels to see if I need to increase water changing frequency, the last few times I have found that nitrates are less than 10ppm. I decided that it may be the test kit not working properly so I tried it on a rubbermaid container that some pond fish stay in over the winter, which should gain nitrates rapidly. Before the water change it was at a much higher and expected level than the pbass tank, so I believe the test kit is working well but I just want to be sure. I feed them bloodworms 3x a day and feeders about 2x a week (working on getting the amount of feeders up) Is this normal for nitrate levels to be that low or is it probably because the testing kit I am using is not working properly? (the kit is about 8-9 months old)

That seems a little excessive to me...almost doing 100% water change once per week. Depending on filtration, 25% once or twice per week would probably be enough. I have 4 cichla ranging from 6-7.5", a 5" Oscar, and a 3.5" Firemouth in a 48 x 14 x 25 growout with undergravel filter / powerheads and a Fluval 405 canister. I only do about 30% water change every 10 days or so and my fish are healthy, colorful, and very active. Nitrates even on the water change day are rarely above 10-15ppm. This tank also has gravel in it that is about 2 years old so the bio load is comparable to yours.