Is A Nitrate Level Of 10 - 20ppm Ok?

[helenx0x0]

After doing around a 20/25% water change last night after one of my peppered cory cats started to look ill - and a nitrate test revealed my nitrate was too high (despite me doing regular water changes, not overstocking in any way and not overfeeding... *confused*) - my nitrate is now at 10-20ppm. Is this a safe level? I want to reduce the level more, and have been adding nitrate removal stuff to my water, but I would be interested to know what everyone thinks is a 'safe' level of nitrate.

Thanks dudes

 

[Miss Wiggle]

there's a lot of dispute about what is a safe level of nitrate, i'd say anything under 40ppm, but there are some people who would say up to 100ppm is fine.

i think everyone would agree though that 10-20 is absolutely fine.

 

[Dave Spencer]

What reading did you get when you say nitrate was too high?

I dose my tank with nitrates for a target of between 20 - 30ppm for plant growth and is a level that is totally harmless to my four Peppered Corys. Hope your Cory gets better.

 

[StuCarr]

Check your tap water to get a nitrate reading, I know mine is 10ppm, so I will never get it below that in the tank

 

[k.o.d]

I keep large rays and arowana, I cannot get the nitrates below 80 ppm even with water changes every day. The rays and arowana are growing well with no problems

Your nitrates are fine, in fact they are more than fine

 

[helenx0x0]

Thanks everyone!

I think I will do a nitrate test on the tap water to be sure. I was just a bit worried because when I bought some fish recently I did a nitrate test on the water they came in, and it was 0ppm...

very helpful advice

 

[kanzaris]

Hi


I wish mine would be only 20mg/l
My Tap Water is 40mg/l. Never used to be. Someone said that farming/fertiliser can influence your tap water. In my case that could be right as I live in the Countryside. The water from your lfs could be RO Water. My local Maidenhead Aquatics uses that for all their tanks.

Sabby

 

[demonmagus]

I suppose it makes sense, farmers dump nitrate onto crops, washes into rivers and SHAZAM nitrate water

 

[helenx0x0]

The water from your lfs could be RO Water. My local Maidenhead Aquatics uses that for all their tanks.

What is RO water? Is it specially treated so the fish stores can prevent losing their stock?

 

[demonmagus]

no, its water with 95% of 'stuff' taken out of it, including nitrates and phosphates, so basically pure water.

 

[helenx0x0]

ahh right, thanks