Hi guys, just wondering if it's normal to have constantly low nitrates? The tank in question is my 72 which currently houses 5 discus, ornate bichir, synocat, tiger loach and a handful of barbs and otos. Now i do fairly frequent water changes as these guys eat a lot, but i have never seen the nitrate over 5ppm, it hardly registers. I have two different brand tests for nitrate and they're identical. And it never changes, right before a water change, 5ppm, after, 5ppm. I remember when i cycled the tank, ammonia spike, nitrite spike, nitrate 5ppm. The tank is fairly heavily planted but can that seriously be the reason its always so stable?
What's the big deal about NITRATES?
- Thread starter Illbuyourcatfish
- Start date
my moneys on the plants . my pond ,with hyacinths and several other kinds of plants , goes to 0 nitrates . and my tap water is closer to 20 ppm
i use to keep plants in my tank. i threw it in the thrash after a lot of trial and errors.
i would never keep plants again. i never looked back since.
i would never keep plants again. i never looked back since.
Idk but I would be glad. Nitrates are said to be the number 1 cause of hole in the head, and Im pretty sure discus can get it.
Whilst plants lower nitrate levels, they will never reduce them from 20ppm to nothing, no matter what anyone tells you...Water changes are your friend, and even they won't do that. Aim to keep them at least below 40 ppm, and for "indicator fish" such as clown loaches, under 20-30ppm.
I had trouble with Nitrates even with constant water changes... I add this product every other month and my Nitrates are nill...Benefit my discus
have paired up and I get them to spawn regularly ..
http://www.petco.com/product/111801...-6B23-DF11-9B13-0019B9C043EB&mr:referralID=NA
have paired up and I get them to spawn regularly ..
http://www.petco.com/product/111801...-6B23-DF11-9B13-0019B9C043EB&mr:referralID=NA
Mr Pleco;4091300; said:I had trouble with Nitrates even with constant water changes... I add this product every other month and my Nitrates are nill...Benefit my discus
have paired up and I get them to spawn regularly ..
http://www.petco.com/product/111801...-6B23-DF11-9B13-0019B9C043EB&mr:referralID=NA
I wonder what the "science" is behind this product without the marketing swing...i.e. how does it actually convert to nitrogen? Not doubting it works, just interested. I might set up a peristaltic pump to dose this regularly enough to keep nitrate down between water chages weekly.
If you have purchased a nitrate test as part of a "kit", try purchasing a nitrate only test. I have heard that specific tests are manufactured under stricter manufacturing parameters, kind of like the difference between a regular thermometer vs. a calibrating thermometer, more accurate. IDK, maybe worth a shot? Prob way more expensive.
I thought no nitrates was good...5ppm is like no nitrates in the grand scope of things.
I thought no nitrates was good...5ppm is like no nitrates in the grand scope of things.