The easiest way to get perfect nitrate reading

[frontosafanatic]

Does anyone know if there is a way to get a perfect nitrate reading? I've been keeping fish for around ten years and i've always had perfect ammonia and perfect nitrite but I never really checked for nitrate until the last few years. My nitrate is always high,even though I change water once a week and keep the waste off of the bottom.Is there a way to get perfect nitrate without adding plants??All input will be appreciated

 

[Deaths Sting]

bigger and/or more water changes..

give us some info on the tank u speak of.

size, filtration, stock.. etc etc..

 

[chesterthehero]

test your tap water and see what you are starting with..

 

[JK47]

test your tap water and see what you are starting with..

x2, I agree. I used to have 20-30 PPM right out of the tap from my municiple water supply before I moved.

 

[tcarswell]

x2, I agree. I used to have 20-30 PPM right out of the tap from my municiple water supply before I moved.

i get 20-30 from the tap so with a 75% weekly water change I can obtain a 40 usually Im getting some of the fluval nitrate remover resin. I hear that helps

 

[JK47]

i get 20-30 from the tap so with a 75% weekly water change I can obtain a 40 usually Im getting some of the fluval nitrate remover resin. I hear that helps

I filled 1/4 of an Eheim 2215 with it and it did very little for me. Probably because the tanks were smaller than mine currently are (125g or less) but none the less, I was not happy with the results.

In Fluval's defense I was not happy with my tap either...

 

[tcarswell]

I filled 1/4 of an Eheim 2215 with it and it did very little for me. Probably because the tanks were smaller than mine currently are (125g or less) but none the less, I was not happy with the results.

In Fluval's defense I was not happy with my tap either...

did you use the lab series nitrate removing resin ? Or the special "bio media " that supposedly harbors up bacteria that oxidizes nitrates ? Ive heard great things about the little resin packets that come in the black plastic jar.

 

[bitteraspects]

bigger and/or more water changes..

exactly. well said.

if your ammonia and nitrites are reading at the right level, that means your bacteria colony is doing its job, but if youre getting high nitrate readings even with regular WC, it could be a bioload issue.

 

[frontosafanatic]

I don't think it's a bioload problem,I have a light load right now.I only have 6 fish in my 500 gallon right now.I have 2 rays between 11 and 12 inches,3 flagtails(fei fengs)one 8 inch,one around 10 inch and one 12 to 13 inch,and one aro between 12 and 14 inches.

 

[bitteraspects]

i dont know much about the bio load of rays, but considering its a 500g tank it does seem unlikely that the load is the issue.

you may want to look into an algae scrubber