High Nitrates Even With 2 Wc A Week?

[RossC]

Is 5 neons and 2 guppy and platy fry overstocked for a 19Litre? Because even with 2 50%+ changes a week I'm getting high nitrate readings. No ammonia or nitrites though.

 

[Staxx]

have you tested your tap water? as stupid as it sounds my tap water also contains nitrates sometimes up to 5ppm sometimes higher!

 

[Akasha72]

have you got any live plants in there? Live plants feed on Nitrates so it should lower if you havn't and you added some

 

[RossC]

have you tested your tap water? as stupid as it sounds my tap water also contains nitrates sometimes up to 5ppm sometimes higher!

I did a while ago but can't remember the result, but I've got two bigger tanks that don't give me any problem

 

[minnnt]

What do you class as high nitrates?

 

[RossC]

have you got any live plants in there? Live plants feed on Nitrates so it should lower if you havn't and you added some

Yer I've got a large stem plant dunno its name lol it fill most of the tank

What do you class as high nitrates?

80+ ppm dark red on API test kit

 

[Staxx]

80ppm after 3 days? #136###!

 

[minnnt]

80ppm after 3 days? #136###!

This!!

 

[Staxx]

your test kit in date? are you doing the test right?


that sounds super high after such a short time, with so few fish

 

[RossC]

your test kit in date? are you doing the test right?


that sounds super high after such a short time, with so few fish

It should be I only bought it in February this year, none of my other tanks are giving these readings

 

[mattlee]

are you feeding them too much? uneaten food will add to the nitrate content if left long enough...

 

[RossC]

are you feeding them too much? uneaten food will add to the nitrate content if left long enough...

I feed a real small portion twice a day, I've cut it back to an amount that I know as close to none will make it to the bottom of the tank. I did a 75% yesterday after posting here and today I've got a result between 20 and 40 ppm

 

[FishFanatic04]

Could something be rotting in the substrate or behind wood or something? That's a serious nitrate climb quickly so something is causing it. My first guess is something rotting and producing ammonia. I had this happen with a dead platy fry once stuck behind some wood.

 

[fluttermoth]

I'd consider that a very heavy stocking for a 19l, especially bearing in mind that some are fry who produce more ammonia that an adult fish of the same size.

You'll just need to do larger or more frequent water changes. Remember that livebearers excrete a hormone that will stunt their growth if not diluted enough; your very high nitrate indicates that your current water change regime is not enough.

A nitrate level of between 20 and 40ppm is perfectly acceptable.

 

[RossC]

I'll tear the tank apart tomorrow and have a good look because it is quite hard to see the back due to bogwood and plants so I'll give it a full inspection and see