Hi,
My tank eventually finished cycling last week (fishless)
It is 180 litre with trickle filtration in the hood (agua one) I have the fine white wool and then the heavy black wool and ceramic noodles under. I have no carbon in as per advice on here.
Readings are now:
Ammonia 0
NitrIte 0
NitrAte 40-80 PPM
P.H 7.5
As expected, my NitrAte was very high having processed all that NitrIte having finished cycling.
For the last 5 days I have done 2 x 50% water changes and 3 x 25%. Thats nearly 2 entire tank changes. Despite this my NitrAte reading is still between 40 and 80. The reason I say it is between such a big range is the API test kit has various different colours for each stage up to 40 PPM and then 40 PPM and then 80 PPM are both near identicle shades of red so it is near impossible to tell if it is nearer 40 or 80 !!
Anyway, I have tested my tap water and this shows to be 10 PPM straight out of the tap.
Since my tank finished cycling last week, I have added x 4 platties today. That is all I have now along with about 5 plants
They currently seem more than happy and are whizzing around.
All the guides I have seen have suggested that NitrAte over 50 PPM is bad for the tank, algae growth and the fish making them more prone to disease. I know that water changes are the only way to clear NitrAte. I accept that if my tape water is about 10 PPM I will never have it below that but cant see whay i have done nearly a 200% water change in last 7 days and it is still 40-80 PPM.
Any ideas why I cant get the NitrAte down despite all the water changes ?
Thanks
My tank eventually finished cycling last week (fishless)
It is 180 litre with trickle filtration in the hood (agua one) I have the fine white wool and then the heavy black wool and ceramic noodles under. I have no carbon in as per advice on here.
Readings are now:
Ammonia 0
NitrIte 0
NitrAte 40-80 PPM
P.H 7.5
As expected, my NitrAte was very high having processed all that NitrIte having finished cycling.
For the last 5 days I have done 2 x 50% water changes and 3 x 25%. Thats nearly 2 entire tank changes. Despite this my NitrAte reading is still between 40 and 80. The reason I say it is between such a big range is the API test kit has various different colours for each stage up to 40 PPM and then 40 PPM and then 80 PPM are both near identicle shades of red so it is near impossible to tell if it is nearer 40 or 80 !!
Anyway, I have tested my tap water and this shows to be 10 PPM straight out of the tap.
Since my tank finished cycling last week, I have added x 4 platties today. That is all I have now along with about 5 plants
They currently seem more than happy and are whizzing around.
All the guides I have seen have suggested that NitrAte over 50 PPM is bad for the tank, algae growth and the fish making them more prone to disease. I know that water changes are the only way to clear NitrAte. I accept that if my tape water is about 10 PPM I will never have it below that but cant see whay i have done nearly a 200% water change in last 7 days and it is still 40-80 PPM.
Any ideas why I cant get the NitrAte down despite all the water changes ?
Thanks