Tank Still Shows High Nitrates. What to do?

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asm129

asm129

Gambusia
MFK Member
Dec 28, 2009
642
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Cafe Lu
I have a 60 gallon tank that I've been cycling for over 2 weeks. I've been using Seachem Stability and have 3 black skirt tetras in there. I added media from an established tank (eheim bioballs and old tank water) to help speed up the cycle.

I've been doing tests the past few days and
Ammonia = 0
Nitrite = 0
Nitrate = 40 or 80. I can't really tell because the colors on the card look exactly the same to me. I guess it's somewhere in between.

I'm going to put some baby loaches and baby datnoids in there. I have 2 AC 110's and a Penguin 350 Biowheel on the tank right now, running for 2 weeks.

Is there anything I can do to bring down the Nitrate? I've already changed the water (25%) and don't know what else I can do.
 
Well first your tank is only cycled to the three small fish you currently have, so add more fish gradually.

Generally a 50-60% w/c will cut your nitrate level in half. You will need to make sure that your tap water does not have a high level of nitrates.
 
waterchanges are the only way to remove nitrates. also like the previous poster stated, add fish slowly as not to trigger a mini cycle. add a few-wait a few weeks, add a few more.. etc.
 
festerfish;3737101; said:
40 nitrates are not bad, the only way to lower nitrates is water changes and live plants. nitrites and ammonia is what kills fish
Click to expand...

Is that right? So even if my Nitrate was at 80, I should not be too worried? I know nitrates are relatively harmless except when they're over 40, but maybe I'm wrong.

Are you able to keep fish at Nitrate over 40 and Ammonia and Nitrite at 0? I'm going to be keeping baby dats so I want to be extra careful.
 
yep in a healthy cycled tank your ammonia should be 0 nitrite 0 and nitrate lower than 40 (with really sensittive fish you should aim for below 20)

the nitrogen cycle dosen't remove nitrate it produces it as said before the only way to remove nitrates is from plants, an algae scrubber,water changes or a denitrator
 
nitrates at 80 is a little too high for me.. i keep mine under 20, but i do 50 percent waterchanges on the weekends.. i would say keep them 40-50 ppm and under.
 
I checked my tap water and it shows Nitrates at 10 ppm. So even if I did more water changes, would that help with the Nitrate problem or will I always have it by using my tap water?

I'm going to take everyone's suggestion and buy some plants.
 
asm129;3737228; said:
I checked my tap water and it shows Nitrates at 10 ppm. So even if I did more water changes, would that help with the Nitrate problem or will I always have it by using my tap water?

I'm going to take everyone's suggestion and buy some plants.
Click to expand...
10 ppm isnt bad but you would never be able to get the nitrate in the tank lower than 10 ppm no matter how many water changes. you will just have to do more water changes to keep it at or lower than 40 ppm


if your going to buy plants make sure you have enough light for them (look around the planted forums here for some good fast growing (becuase faster growing plants are better at removing nitrate generaly speaking) plants that will work with your lighting
 
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