Nitrate Level

[TheSims3Dude]

Heylo!

I haven't been on in a couple months, anyways, I cleaned my 20 gallon tank around 5 pm tonight, (it's now 8 pm) and I just checked my water stats,
Nitrites = 0 ppm
Nitrates = 5 ppm
Ammonia = 0 ppm

1) Can I even have 0 ppm if my tanks been running for years? (I clean the tank once a week, 10-15% water change)
2) What's the normal level for Nitrates to be? 0 ppm? Mine's 5 ppm, will that harm the fish?
Or is it barely anything,..
Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[fatheadminnow]

Tests have proven that fish can tolerate a level of nitrAte up to 400+ ppm. Nitrate is the final product in the cycle and does not harm fish unless in large quantities.

No, a tank that has been running for years will still/will always have a nitrate level since there is no bacteria to remove the nitrate, only water changes.

There are very rare cases where nitrate is near 0 ppm, which we sometimes see in heavily planted tank.

A nitrate level of about 20 ppm above your tap nitrate level is about normal.

-FHM

 

[TheSims3Dude]

Okie Dokie,
thank-you!

 

[fatheadminnow]

Your welcome!

-FHM

 

[FISH-FRY]

"Safe" nitrate levels for public water should be no more than 10 ppm (mg/L) and it depends on where you live in the world. That's my normal tap water number as well as my tank. Looking at a test kit and above 40 starts to become unsafe for an aquarium.

 

[fatheadminnow]

"Safe" nitrate levels for public water should be no more than 10 ppm (mg/L) and it depends on where you live in the world. That's my normal tap water number as well as my tank. Looking at a test kit and above 40 starts to become unsafe for an aquarium.

Science has proven, and studies have shown that fish can tolerate levels up to 400+ ppm, safely.

If you keep up on your weekly water changes, then the nitrate level should not exceed that of 20 ppm above your tap nitrate level.

-FHM

 

[MrNiceGuy]

A nitrate level of about 20 ppm above your tap nitrate level is about normal.

will filtered tap water have a lower nitrate level? does all tap water have nitrates?

 

[fatheadminnow]

Most tap water does not have nitrate at all. My tap water does not. What do you mean by "filtered tap water?"

-FHM

 

[Defiance]

Hiya's,

FHM, i think he means filtered water as-in a britta type inline filter for cold water piping (in-out and filter is like spun thread with a holed plastic core, these come in handy for diy filtering rigs too)

Now being in the uk and in staffordshire, i can't rem if it's our water in lichfield or my moms water in rugeley but one tests for nitrate right from the tap even though we are only like 8 miles apart (gotta shove off in a few mins but will test later)

As said though, with the water changes you've been doing i wouldn't overly worry, when levels start to get into treble figures ppm then worry

Simplest way to reduce nitrate is imagine it as a decent fert for plants, the more plants the less the nitrate will go up, but unless you have a jungle looker of a tank just accept doing standard water changes to keep the nitrate in check

Have Fun

Tony

 

[roadmaster]

"Safe" nitrate levels for public water should be no more than 10 ppm (mg/L) and it depends on where you live in the world. That's my normal tap water number as well as my tank. Looking at a test kit and above 40 starts to become unsafe for an aquarium.

Science has proven, and studies have shown that fish can tolerate levels up to 400+ ppm, safely.

If you keep up on your weekly water changes, then the nitrate level should not exceed that of 20 ppm above your tap nitrate level.

-FHM

Were these studies performed on ornamental or tropicals or were they performed with one or two species of Gamefish? I would agree that perhaps NitrAtes in and of themselves aren't particularly harmful but at elevated levels,, they represent excess organics that can lower the amount of dissolved oxygen as well as affect the pH in aquariums if not kept in check. Some also suggest that some species of fish are more tolerant than others with respct to nitrate levels. Still others suggest that perhaps embyro development of some tropicals are affected by elevated levels.
For myself,, I keep nitrates at 10 to 20 ppm in unplanted tanks and it has served me well .

 

[AdamM]

as far as i am aware a planted tank will have hardly any nitrates at all, is this right?

 

[fatheadminnow]

"Safe" nitrate levels for public water should be no more than 10 ppm (mg/L) and it depends on where you live in the world. That's my normal tap water number as well as my tank. Looking at a test kit and above 40 starts to become unsafe for an aquarium.

Science has proven, and studies have shown that fish can tolerate levels up to 400+ ppm, safely.

If you keep up on your weekly water changes, then the nitrate level should not exceed that of 20 ppm above your tap nitrate level.

-FHM

Were these studies performed on ornamental or tropicals or were they performed with one or two species of Gamefish? I would agree that perhaps NitrAtes in and of themselves aren't particularly harmful but at elevated levels,, they represent excess organics that can lower the amount of dissolved oxygen as well as affect the pH in aquariums if not kept in check. Some also suggest that some species of fish are more tolerant than others with respct to nitrate levels. Still others suggest that perhaps embyro development of some tropicals are affected by elevated levels.
For myself,, I keep nitrates at 10 to 20 ppm in unplanted tanks and it has served me well .

PM Truck, a member on here, and he will be able to give you the details about the studies.

-FHM