Nitrate Level Advice + A Cichlid Emergency

[DJC1]

What is a safe level of nitrate.

Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 80+

Also I have a dwarf cockatoo cichlid emergency here >>> http/www.fishforums.net/content/Tropical...s-Color-And-Br/

if anyone can help, thanks.

 

[Davo86]

Ideally it should be no more higher than 40, try doing a 25-30% water change that should help

 

[Chuka1212]

It is true. I have heard that below 30-35 is safe and normal. I was reading however in Tropical Fish Hobbyist Magazine that it should ideally be very close to zero however...

 

[n3ont3tra]

For the average FW tank, anything below 40 is fine, above 40 is borderline, above 80 is bad.
For a SW reef tank, you should aim for zero. Maybe that's what you were reading, chuka?

 

[Luketendo]

Do a water change, about 25%.

 

[DJC1]

Cheers guys, any ideas on the 'emergency' link?

 

[Luketendo]

Well to elaborate on my tanks I generally end up with doing water changes every two weeks.

This week I've done none since the 30l was at 10ppm and the other 20ppm.

But sometimes it goes very high so I do big changes.

 

[andywg]

The science carried out on fish has shown that nitrate only starts to cause ill effects (short or long term) once the levels have raised past something like 400ppm. So I wouldn't worry too much about anything under 3 figures, especially with the more hardy and general fish available (many raykeepers do fine with tapwater in the region of 40ppm).