Question about Nitrate.

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chonhzilla

chonhzilla

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Dec 26, 2007
1,970
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Fresno CA
Ok my nitrate in my current tank right now is at 40ppm (Tested with API test kit). The tank has been up and running for about 7 months now. Just recently there was a severe diatom out break. I wasn't sure what to do so I tested my tap water. Out of the tap it tested 10ppm of nitrate. So I figured to lower my nitrate levels I stopped dosing KNO3. ( Potassium Nitrate ) So far it hasn't helped with the diatom outbreak. What can I do?

Thanks
-Chonh:nilly:
 
Have you tested for phosphates or silicates?
 
crisper;3368344; said:
Try adding some live plants.
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I highly doubt he's dosing KNO3 for fun.
 
40ppm is not exactly crisis level . . . to me, 40ppm is as high as I'd want to go, but not so high that I'd feel unsafe there

what is your target? and regarding some earlier posts, maybe you need to add more plants?

but if your nitrates are 40ppm, I'd stop dosing the nitrogen . . . I dose nitrogen because my nitrates are near zero . . .
 
40 ppm nitrate is about double what you want for a planted tank.


I've still got diatoms in my 75, it's been set up for about 18 months, 50% WC every week or two. Plus I've got green algae, so the back glass looks like camo.

Adhlc;3368752; said:
I highly doubt he's dosing KNO3 for fun.
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Good point
 
FSM;3369665; said:
40 ppm nitrate is about double what you want for a planted tank.


I've still got diatoms in my 75, it's been set up for about 18 months, 50% WC every week or two. Plus I've got green algae, so the back glass looks like camo.



Good point
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You hit it right on the head with the camo background.

Yes I am trying to reduce the nitrates from 40ppm to around or below 20ppm. I do keep up with my weekly water changes at 20% everytime. Maybe I need to do larger amounts?

And yes I've got a heavily planted tank. Backed with 2 Filters. ( Ehiem 2232 and Cascade 500 on my 40 breeder)
 
ok, I wasn't advocating 40ppm, just that I didn't think it was off-the-charts either . . . no worries

any mention of bio-load here? to have high nitrates in a "heavily planted" tank seems unusual, so what fish are you keeping and how many?

also, when did you stop dosing nitrogen? how many water changes have you done since?
 
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