Sorting the nitrate levels in my tank

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Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Nov 25, 2006
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Uk
Done a 5 in 1 check on my water the other day and the nitrate was at 150. Im new to fish keeping so this is a bit worrying seeing as the instructions on the pack say it should be below 50. I got the tank about 3 weeks ago and managed to keep about half the original water that was already in it. I put water in from the tap after treating it first with a dechlorinator and filter aid. I have cleaned the flter out which has got the level down to 100 just under. Is there anything else I can do to get this down or is it a case of waiting for the filter to do its job? My tank is an aqua style 850 which is about 40 gallons, it has a built in wet and dry trickle filter.
http://www.aquaone.co.uk/prod_details.php?id_no=52024sv
 
If you rinsed the filter media in tank water, it should still be cycled. The only way to effectively lower nitrates is water change, or chemical filtration. Never rinse your biological media in tap water, always use dechlorinated water, or tank water. Also, I would recommend getting a liquid test kit, as dip strips are not always accurate. Seachems is really good, and I have liked the ease of use for this one much more than that of API test kits. The filter you have will not remove nitrates, water changes are the prefered method. Generally I recommend a wc once a month at the very least. Personally my tanks get wcs 1 a week minimum.
 
I have done a 50% change when I first got the tank and 20% last weekend. So the nitrate level would have dropped due to me doing a 20% change. I really do think that the previous owners just left the tank as it was for ages with no maintenance, I may have been better off to have emptied it right out and started a fresh. I did wash out the filters with tank water by the way.
 
All you can do is water change, water change, water change. Take a sample of water by your lfs, make sure they are using liquid test kits, and see what they come up with.
 
Do atleast a 25% change weekly. What is in the tank and how big is the tank? Also, check your tapwater for nitrates.
 
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