Estimators Indexing My Nitrates Are Huuge

[simonas]

I've been using the EI method for a month or so now
Just checked my stats and my nitrates are 160!!!!!!
They're usually 5 I only tested as my discus looked unhappy
Is this a side effect of EI?

 

[ian]

have you been keeping up with the water changes?

 

[simonas]

I've been doing the 50% per week?

 

[StandbySetting]

How many PPM are you dosing a week? Are your solutions mixed to the correct concentration?

 

[Ps3Steveo]

Scary with Discus, I'll be keeping an eye on this as I'm considering EI with my planted tank.

 

[lljdma06]

Hmmmm, how are the plants doing? Have you done anything different from your normal routine? When did the discus start looking unhappy?

Liz

 

[simonas]

Been doing same routine
I think the plants look poor to be honest it's doing my head in lol
The discus looked a bit unhappy today really.today's water change day for EI
They should pick up tomorrow

 

[tribalbrit]

What have you been dosing???

 

[snowflake311]

I like plants but I love my discus. I would do a huge water change and do not add anything besides water conditioner. Then check your nitrates. Then watch them for a few days see if that is the problem. Have you been feeding them more? The dream of a planted tank for discus is not always a good one. Plants and discus have very different needs.

 

[RadaR]

Why are we assuming that the test kit is right?
EI allows us to go without using test kits (which have been shown to be consistently unreliable/inaccurate). Better off in the bin IMO.
I'd be very suprised if you ever reached 160ppm nitrate due to EI.

 

[lljdma06]

I'm not assuming that, I'm assuming that the discus are not well. Could be for any number of reasons. Nitrate test kits are very inaccurate.

Where are you getting the salts for EI, Simon?

I've seen a ton of planted tanks that feature discus... Their needs are not incompatible. Discus are found in habitats that have high levels of vegatation. Simon, what's the temperature of the tank and what is the plant list again?