problem with nitrate levels

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Criminy. Yes-that's what I'd call an overstocked tank. That's 7 good-sized fish in a 90 gal tank. If you count the 14" (!) Gar as 2 fish that'd be 8 fish in 90 gal. You've only got about 10 gal per fish that way. No wonder you can't get nitrates under control. It's my opinion there's no quick solution, you're going to just have to get some of those fish out of there if you want nitrates to be controllable.
2 Oscars in a 90 gal is pushing it but with dedicated water changes for the next 12 yrs you could do it if they get along. Do you realize how big Red-Tailed Cats get? There's no way he can live in a 90 gal with 2 Oscars for very long.
 
yemista;2119333; said:
i thought mfk was all about overstocked tanks with overdone filtration?
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Over stocked tank and a huge filter = nitrate factory
Change your water more often maybe even daily.

MFK is about keeping monster fish healthy in a good environment. Not keeping fish in an overstocked tank with unhealthy water!
 
so would a smaller filter make nitrate at a slower rate? do you think i need to lower my filtration? ive been doign weekly water changes but ill do it more often if need be. also, if anyone is in the new england area and wants a free 14" spotted gar, your more than welcomed to come take it. i love the gar but its too hard to feed because the oscars and catfish just rip food from his mouth and im getting tired of it.
 
Are you being serious or sarcastic? Just in case you're being serious-NO! Don't decrease filtration. Lord, get some of those fish out of there. the ONLY thing that will decrease nitrates is water changes. In your case with that kind of stocking that would pretty much mean 100% water changes every single day.
 
and cut on those feedings. If they're eating pellets, skip the shrimp.
 
yemista;2119333; said:
i thought mfk was all about overstocked tanks with overdone filtration?
Click to expand...

I just had to come back and make a quick comment on this. I haven't been here a real long time. It's true-people who don't know any better DO think MFK is all about "over stocking & big bad filters". That mindset feeds on itself through people who come here thinking big fish are 'cool' and they try to stuff them in 55 & 75 gal tanks. That doesn't mean the serious responsible fish-keepers who have been on this site for years condone that. Just the opposite, I would think.
Just how many of these 2 foot fish in 55 gal tanks do you think are still alive 6 months later when someone else comes along and reads the threads about them?
 
i guess there is no option but to give away some of my babies :cry:. and yes i was being serious, less beneficial bacteria means less nitrate production.i need to feed the rtc shrimp, the rest eat pellets. how do you judge the bioload of a fish? my jack dempsey is still small so i dont think he is contributing much. if anything i bet its the oscars becaue of the way they eat, the red devils are pretty neat eaters but they are still large sized fish
 
No....the good bacteria will just be more concentrated if you have less of an area for it to grow on. And the fish will have less water movement and less mechanical (debris cleaning) filtration. Your nitrates will ONLY go down through major water changes.
If it helps-do a search for 'cycling' and it explains it all. Nothing removes nitrates in a cycled aquarium-except water changes. If your nitrates are so high that water changes aren't bringing them down then you're major-overstocked.
I apologize for thinking you were being sarcastic-I couldn't imagine you would consider taking away filters.
 
how about cleaning out your canister filter, they're notorious for trapping debris and producing tons of nitates if not cleaned frequently, especially if you've got a barebottom tank.
 
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