reducing nitrates

[sostoudt]

yea, i believe I'm under filtered

i would say thats what it is. your tank doesnt have enough surface area for bacteria to grow on. i would add some more biological media to your filter.
you could use bioballs.

 

[FSM]

How big is the tank, and what do you have in it?

Get some ceramic biomedia for the filter if it has extra space in it.

 

[TwistedPenguin]

Underfiltering hasn't got a thing in the world to do with nitrates, I'm not sure why everyone always thinks it does. Not enough bio-media would have something to do with the ammonia & nitrItes-but not nitrates. Did you do a water change like I suggested. If it's nitrates you're concerned with ONLY water changes will lower it. And in your case a big water change will also take care of your slight ammonia/nitrite reading.
So.......?? Did you do a water change??

 

[Mr Pleco]

check tap water for AMM and Nitrates ...before I moved my tap water had both AMM and nitrates in it....if you can keep Nitrates under 40 ppm and your doing regular water changes , fish are acting normal, and your not breeding fish, then don't sweat it.

As far as AMM , your using an API test kit these may give you false AMM readings depending upon the type of water conditioner is used. Do you have Chloramines in your tap water? Water conditioners just break the bond they don't remove the AMM. A lot of people on MFK embellish their water testing ..most claim to have sterile water- 0.0 readings on most kits which always makes me suspicious. Since most city water has AMM levels from the tap?

 

[tcarswell]

I use purigen

 

[sostoudt]

Underfiltering hasn't got a thing in the world to do with nitrates, I'm not sure why everyone always thinks it does. Not enough bio-media would have something to do with the ammonia & nitrItes-but not nitrates. Did you do a water change like I suggested. If it's nitrates you're concerned with ONLY water changes will lower it. And in your case a big water change will also take care of your slight ammonia/nitrite reading.
So.......?? Did you do a water change??

a proper sized filter wont leave any ammonia or nitrite. just a little bit is too much.
just in case you dont know ammonia and nitrite is much more toxic then nitrates

btw anerobic and plant filtration lowers nitrates also

 

[TwistedPenguin]

a proper sized filter wont leave any ammonia or nitrite. just a little bit is too much.
just in case you dont know ammonia and nitrite is much more toxic then nitrates

Umm...I think I know that, not sure why you even posted that. My post said over-filtering has nothing to do with lowering 'nitrates' just ammonia & nitrites. He was asking about lowering nitrates.
Never mind, have at it.

 

[Deaths Sting]

you could get a little fry keeper and fill it up with java moss, that will help lower ur nitrates. that's what my buddy does and it works great for him!

but the best way is just to do more water changes.

 

[tcarswell]

have you checked your water source? this could be contributing to your problem. ive read some posts on here about a high nitrate problem from their water source. i believe it was tcarswell. sp?

Thats me ! And yes I test anywhere from 20 ppm nitrate on a good day to 30 on a bad day.. From the faucet. I encourage anyone with a high nitrate problem to age their tap water 24 hours after dechlorinating and testing that.

Also it sounds like you have other problems than nitrate. You should never have a measurable amount of nitrite or ammonia...

 

[tcarswell]

Do a 75% water change and you'll knock the ammonia % nitrites down to zero and knock the nitrates down to 10 (40 minus 75%=10).
Pretty simple actually.

Its not that simple actually. A 75 % change only removes 75 % of his ammonia and nitrites. I dont know how you missed this concept with the dangerous aspect of his parameters and then applied it correctly to his parameters in the manner of nitrates...