HELP REDUCE NITRATES!

[ger87410]

The only way that I found to reduce the nitrates is to do water changes replacing the old water with nitrate free water. Also plants will help control nitrates. The more plants the merrier. That's how it's controlled in the wild. Never ending water changes and plants.

 

[lelover]

Are you adding a fertilizer to your plants? I have been battling nitrates too and my best guess is that it is the pond tabs that I put in. What do you guys think?

 

[Pointy_kitty]

If your tapwater has a lower nitrate level than your tank and water changes do not lower the nitrate levels then your tank is over stocked, thats it put simply.
The inch per gallon rule is only a rough rule of thumb for keeping standard community fish, once you start stocking fish like angels the rule goes out of the window and its down to common sence,

hmmmm...
thats interesting
i only use it as a rough rule aswell and since i have tons of experience and knowledge about the species i have in my tanks and their needs, i thought that i could make it thus far without a problem
i only produced the exact inches and calculations at another members request and i am continuously told that is not correct
the rest of my water quality is perfect
so far so good
the nitrates were kinda a shock to me since i take such good care of my tanks
but now i am learning that it is not something to panic over
i thought it was much more serious then it really is
but i will increase water changes (to 30% as said before)

its just a little confusing that 15.5" (even if it IS only 18 gallons once you subtract substrate and ornaments) is overstocked
i understand why but i would not have thought that any of my fish would produce such large amounts of waste
not even the angel due to their slim build and dainty appetite
but live and learn

as i have already said i am purchasing a 55 gallon set-up
and before anything is said (since it always is ) i realize i have somewhat large fish for a 20gallon setup (in the semi-agressive tank aswell as the angel)
that is why i mentioned the 55gallon
is i can keep the tanks running well then i will be just fine until then

 

[Pointy_kitty]

Are you adding a fertilizer to your plants? I have been battling nitrates too and my best guess is that it is the pond tabs that I put in. What do you guys think?

only rescently
it was not added for the longest time and the nitrates stayed the same

 

[FishDan]

I'm still curious what your nitrate levels are...

\Dan

ummmm....
i said its between 40-50

I'm sorry, somehow I misssed this. In that case, I tend to agree with most of the above statements that this level of nitrates is not really anything to worry all that much about.

\Dan

 

[Pointy_kitty]

I'm still curious what your nitrate levels are... 

\Dan

ummmm....
i said its between 40-50

I'm sorry, somehow I misssed this. In that case, I tend to agree with most of the above statements that this level of nitrates is not really anything to worry all that much about.

\Dan

its ok
i tend to miss things at times to

thanx for your help