ok so i finally got a test kit today, and i tested all my tanks, my feeder tank which im trying to breed mollies and have a couple ghost shirmp in tested 0 for amo but the nitrate when i measured it was at about 80 or more ppm i did a massive water change about 40 % waited awhile checked it again still high, so then i measared my tap water and it was about 10 ppm is this bad?? the only thing in this tank when i tested the first time was one rosy red, i have usally been doing large water changs? i also checked my water for ammonia and got 0 im a little confuesed, its a 10 gal tank with a 30-60 whisper filter also uses one of those large airstone powered filters
water quality questions
- Thread starter kildragon6
- Start date
it will be ok but u usually what the nitrate should be around <50 so a little high on my 10 gallon i olny do around 25% water changes. so dont do so large of ones in a little tank
ok so then my tap water is still ok to use then?? also what type of filter are you useing on the tank you have the mollies in them, i bought some today and i think one was knocked up when i bought it, i just don't want the filter to suck them up
having 0 nitrates in the tank would be wonderful, but is only possible with a heavily planted tank or with some other means of constantly removing nittrates (which very very few people actually have)...
As mentioned, nitrates under 50 is generally considered a safe range. Some species may be a little mreo tolerant and some species are much less tolerant, but that is a good base guideline...
Having 10ppm in your water is less than ideal, but you can only work with what you've got. For this reason you will have less forgivenness to slack off on tank maintenance, so just keep up on your water changes
My suggestion is to monitor your nitrates regularly until you find a % that can be changed on each tank each week to keep the nitrates below 50 ppm. Once you have that routine down, montior as you see fit to ensure it stays that way...
As mentioned, nitrates under 50 is generally considered a safe range. Some species may be a little mreo tolerant and some species are much less tolerant, but that is a good base guideline...
Having 10ppm in your water is less than ideal, but you can only work with what you've got. For this reason you will have less forgivenness to slack off on tank maintenance, so just keep up on your water changes
My suggestion is to monitor your nitrates regularly until you find a % that can be changed on each tank each week to keep the nitrates below 50 ppm. Once you have that routine down, montior as you see fit to ensure it stays that way...