Help! Nitrate 160 ppm!

[Aquarist2020]

and it doesn't matter if its cycled for long right?

 

[JuiceBox52]

What do you mean?

 

[Aquarist2020]

What do you mean?

I meant if its 9 months old

 

[Aquarist2020]

but because the nitrates are so high I probably still need to do big water changes

 

[Fishmanic]

Yes.. do a 75 % water change all at once as soon as possible and in 7 days do another75% water change.. then recheck levels.. you need to do at least a 50% water change every 7 days thereafter and perhaps more if levels are still high... and do not overfeed.. feed what the fish can eat in one minute or even less than that amount..

 

[Aquarist2020]

Yes.. do a 75 % water change all at once as soon as possible and in 7 days do another75% water change.. then recheck levels.. you need to do at least a 50% water change every 7 days thereafter and perhaps more if levels are still high... and do not overfeed.. feed what the fish can eat in one minute or even less than that amount..

thanks

 

[Aquarist2020]

BTW how long will test kit last me, I just got one. ( Today was my first day )

 

[Fishmanic]

Really depends how often you do testing.. once you got your nitrates down to a reasonable level ( under 20 ppm) and other things like ph, nitrites, and ammonia are at proper levels you can test less often.

My tank is cycled and stable so I hardly ever check nitrites, ammonia, and nitrites unless fish are acting strangely or look stressed. My nitrates are very low ( under 10 ppm) so I might check nitrates levels every couple of months and they are always low. I recommend putting in lots of live plants including some floating plants to help prevent any spikes in levels. I do at least a 50% water change every 7 to 9 days.

 

[JuiceBox52]

Is this the API master test kit? If so it should last you ages, and will probably expire before you would run out

 

[Fishmanic]

If u run out of just one of the tests, you can order a replacement for just that test.

 

[Aquarist2020]

Hey guys I did the water change should I test or anything.

 

[Byron]

Hey guys I did the water change should I test or anything.

It would be worth knowing what the nitrate level is now.

 

[Wills]

Also if you have removed the concrete you mentioned it would be interesting to know your ph now too

 

[Aquarist2020]

Also if you have removed the concrete you mentioned it would be interesting to know your ph now too

I did

 

[Wills]

I did

Have you retested your ph?