Nitrate Levels

[Kelley24]

I did a water test (Ph, Nitrate, Nitrite and Ammonia) yesterday, The Ph, Nitrite and Ammonia levels were very good. But i'm having trouble with the Nitrate levels. Can anyone give me advice on how to lower it, its very high at the moment. I have done 2 water changes (1 yesterday and 1 today) so far with de-chlorinated water and heated water to same temp as tank using spare heater. But i have just teasted levels again and they are still very high. Can anyone suggest anything that will help me lower it.

 

[jolaf]

Do you have fish in the tank?

I did a water test (Ph, Nitrate, Nitrite and Ammonia) yesterday, The Ph, Nitrite and Ammonia levels were very good. But i'm having trouble with the Nitrate levels. Can anyone give me advice on how to lower it, its very high at the moment. I have done 2 water changes (1 yesterday and 1 today) so far with de-chlorinated water and heated water to same temp as tank using spare heater. But i have just teasted levels again and they are still very high. Can anyone suggest anything that will help me lower it.

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[trace1]

the only way i know of to reduce nitrAte levels is water changes. do you have any live plants in there ?? as if my senile mind is correct these use the nitrAtes to grow so kinda help a little bit

 

[JDS]

the only way i know of to reduce nitrAte levels is water changes. do you have any live plants in there ?? as if my senile mind is correct these use the nitrAtes to grow so kinda help a little bit 

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Also, Just a thought, but what are the levels like out of your tap?
When you say very high, what are you actually getting?
As i understand it, moderate levels are "allowable" (for want of a better word) like say less than 40ppm

 

[trace1]

40ppm or less of nitrAtes is fine. anything above this is not the best thing for your fish. but yeah also check levels out of the tap as well

 

[Fish beginner]

Sorry to hijack thread, I'm have exactly the same problem. Have tested water in it's raw state, reading of +40Mg/L. As the nitrate concentration is so high I'm guessing more frequent/larger water changes will not improve the situation. Please advise.

 

[Kelley24]

jolaf, i'm not sure if you mean the water change or testing water with the fish in the tank. I did a 30% water change and fish was in the tank, but i treated the water and heated it in a different container before transfering. I tested the water in test tubes, without fish obviously cos they wouldnt fit in! lol
I have no live plants, only plastic cos i aint very good with any kind of plants, even in the garden. lol. The levels are a lot higher than 40ppm, its about 100ppm. ITs never been this high before, was always lower than 40ppm. I was told to just do water changes and that would correct it, but it still hasn't so getting a bit worried.

Ps, i dont know what the level is in the tap. I will test later and post it on here.

 

[Fish beginner]

Hi Kelley,

By what means are you testing for nitrates?, i.e. esra strips/liquid based kits. I've found strips difficult to take readings from and not very accurate.

 

[Kelley24]

I have tested the raw water for NitrAte, its not as high as in the tank, approx 30ppm.
I am testing the water with a liquid testing kit. I havent seen the strips, but the liquid form was advised by my LPS.
Any suggestions on how to get the levels down would be appreciated.

 

[JDS]

I think the way forward is to keep on with the water changes.
Tho the best youll get is i guess down to your tap water readings.

And trying some live plants should help too.