when a water change is due... nitrate levels

[zennzzo]

what si a high nitrate?
20ppm?
50?

when should one change water?
i mean when does it start being harmful to fish?

i am trying to find a way to reduce mypower bill by reducing water changes but do nt want stunted fish.

would it be safe to change water at 40 to 50 ppm?
or is that too high alreayd?

40-50 is still acceptable for my Aros...

this is one of those questions that your going to get MANY different answers. i can say that i have ran tanks at up around 100ppm with great growth still. 40-50 is no problem IMO.

Agreed

certain species are more sensitive to nitrates, I think once a week is more than enough.

33% weekly is fine

Can't vouch for your other fish cos don't know their sensitivity but i change water once a week for my aro tanks around 30%. They are not stunted or anything.

actually I have seen growth of 2" per month at this regimen...

If you use barrells in the house that water just needs a very small powerhead to circulate till the temp matches the house temp. Changing 33% weekly with near room temp water, will only drop the tank water a degree or two. I put 70 degree water in the tank of 82 degree water and it just takes a few hours for it to reach 82 again...I have done this hundreds of weeks with no problems...

 

[zennzzo]

i tested 5 mins ago, last wc was monday.
it was about 30ppm

there are some who'd kill for that low of nitrate reading..LOLOL

 

[thor meeki]

"yes, but piping is copper - hot water and coper might leech into tank.hence why i dont do it."(quote)

I have copper pipes in my house & I use the water for my fish. Everything has been just fine for years. I drink it & am just fine. Just run the tap for about 30 seconds that should clear the lines of anything that may have built up over time.

 

[HarleyK]

Howdy,

yes, but piping is copper - hot water and coper might leech into tank.

No reason to worry. Have you ever checked the copper content of your fish food? Hikari Massivore for example contains 16 mg/kg copper sulfate.

"All things are poison and nothing is without poison, only the dose permits something not to be poisonous." - Paracelsus.

HarleyK

 

[henward]

ok, i will kee that in mind then about the copper pipes
good to know!

thanks for the input guys
looks like i was paranoid

 

[packer43064]

I try to stay under 60ish. I do weekly water changes regardless of nitrates. If it's 200 or just 20, always every week a water change.

To me anything under 50 is nothing, it's like being in the next room to someone who smokes and the door isn't close. Will it kill you, no of course not, does it still get in your lungs,I'm sure it does, do you even worry about things like this, no. That's how I see nitrates 50ppm or under.

 

[tcarswell]

Mine comes from the tap at 20 and I do two 50% a week (python ofcourse) No ill effects from the water changes or nitrates they never get above 30-40