'nitrate Minus' And Stuff ?

[JohnBull]

How does Nitrate minus work ? Reason for asking is I have always had higher than normal Nitrate readings around 60ppm climbing to 80ppm before my 15% weekly water change put it back down,thing is my tap water can have between 20-30ppm according to my API test kit,so was wondered what this Nitrate Minus is a good idea as I dont have time for live plants ect ?

Thoughts

 

[lolobunnz]

I would save the money and do 2 water changes a week. Be sure to vaccuum the gravel quite well. could your tank possibly be over stocked? If so, rehoming a few fish will keep you at one water change a week.

 

[fluttermoth]

I would agree, more or less, with lolobunnz. If your nitrates are more than 20 or so PPM above your tap water, then it's an indication that you're either slightly overstocked, over feeding or not doing large enough water changes.

As you're doing only 15% a week, that would be my best guess as to how to rectify the problem; larger % of water changed weekly; try 30 or even 50% (that's what I do on all my tanks) and see what it looks like then.

Do also bear in mind that, of all our home tests, nitrate ones are the most unreliable and that nitrate is only considered a problem at a much higher level than you have, although, of course, lower is better.

 

[JohnBull]

I would save the money and do 2 water changes a week. Be sure to vaccuum the gravel quite well. could your tank possibly be over stocked? If so, rehoming a few fish will keep you at one water change a week.

Tank is Ok fish wise,understocked if anything.

Will start doing ONE larger volume water change per week to begin with, and see if that does the trick.

 

[mickeymygrey1]

ive used it in the past and to be honest it was a lot of money and only sorted the problem short term, as above need to work out why its happening and ok for emergencies.

 

[JohnBull]

I would agree, more or less, with lolobunnz. If your nitrates are more than 20 or so PPM above your tap water, then it's an indication that you're either slightly overstocked, over feeding or not doing large enough water changes.

As you're doing only 15% a week, that would be my best guess as to how to rectify the problem; larger % of water changed weekly; try 30 or even 50% (that's what I do on all my tanks) and see what it looks like then.

Do also bear in mind that, of all our home tests, nitrate ones are the most unreliable and that nitrate is only considered a problem at a much higher level than you have, although, of course, lower is better.

Did a 40% change as recomended.

New API readings where around 40ppm Nitrate, but tap water reading was around 20ppm. Will continue to do larger WC for a few weeks and see what progresses.

Sound about right ?

 

[fluttermoth]

Yes, it does

 

[JohnBull]

Yes, it does

Just done another 50% WT,left it for 4 hours to settle, but Somethings bothering me.

I tested my tank water,and my tap water together via my API kit.

The readings I got where almost identical,BOTH tubes had a pale Red color with the tank reading around 40ppm and the tap water almost the same ??

How much Nitrate in tap water is legal ?

Confused and unsure what to do now to get a proper Nitrate reading from my tank water ?

Any ideas ?

 

[lolobunnz]

With the nitrate liquid test bottles be sure to tap bottle number two on a hard surface. Also be sure to shake it well for how long the instrustions say. Read the test after five minutes and not too much longer afterwards. Waiting too long has proven to give false higher nitrate readings. Also, when holding the tube up to the color chart place the tube directly agaisnt the card and match from there.

The makers of the api freshwater master kit has said both the false higher nitrate reading after mixed too long and to hold the tube up directly on the card.

Just in case your water is fine and you are just reading the test too late. Gotta rule everything out!

 

[Essjay]

How much Nitrate in tap water is legal ?

If you are in the UK, the upper legal limit is 50ppm. Some areas do have 40ppm in their tapwater.

 

[Aquascaper]

Are you using an external filter? If so a Nitrazorb pad could be an option as it can be 'recharged', is relatively cheap and has a constant effect if used correctly.

 

[DrRob]

How much Nitrate in tap water is legal ?

If you are in the UK, the upper legal limit is 50ppm. Some areas do have 40ppm in their tapwater.

Indeed they do, it's very annoying, especially when there's ammonia in there as well at detectable levels.

Does mean I end up messing with my water, so opens a whole realm of options of what to do, but it is a pain.

 

[Electric Warrior]

There are some plants that are very low maintenance and don't need too much care, OP. After I planted up my tank moderately, the nitrate levels in my tank plummeted.

 

[JohnBull]

Thanks for the replies.

Just done exactly how and whats been suggested.

Re-tested tank and after 5 mins the reading was about 35ppm (between 2 shades of red),re-tested the tap water doing exactly the same method and it was 25ppm. So,this means 25ppm is going into my tank as 'fresh' H2O so to speak. The question now is,with a reading of 35ppm from my 2 day old tank water,has my tank produced 10ppm in 48hours,and is this acceptable ? As for plants,might look into this as a get out of jail card if,and only if its 100% necessary. Will continue to do 50% WT as suggested every 5-6 days.


Thoughts

 

[JohnBull]

Thanks for the replies.

Just done exactly how and whats been suggested.

Re-tested tank and after 5 mins the reading was about 35ppm (between 2 shades of red),re-tested the tap water doing exactly the same method and it was 25ppm. So,this means 25ppm is going into my tank as 'fresh' H2O so to speak. The question now is,with a reading of 35ppm from my 2 day old tank water,has my tank produced 10ppm in 48hours,and is this acceptable ? As for plants,might look into this as a get out of jail card if,and only if its 100% necessary. Will continue to do 50% WT as suggested every 5-6 days.





Thoughts

ANYONE ?