Nitrate Question

[brayer]

Just wandering what the best level is for Nitrate? If it was @ 0ppm that's good yes?

 

[littlest]

In a cycled tank nitrate shouldn't be zero. If it is zero it suggests your nitrite isn't being processed. Exceptions may be if you are using nitrate removal products, though I've not used these and they generally aren't recommended. I aim to keep my nitrate under 40. Others are less stringent, some people are more stringent. Some fish aren't very tolerant of nitrates so it has to be kept lower.

Is the nitrate in your tank zero at the moment? If so, are you showing ammonia or nitrite levels? Did you cycle?

 

[brayer]

In a cycled tank nitrate shouldn't be zero. If it is zero it suggests your nitrite isn't being processed. Exceptions may be if you are using nitrate removal products, though I've not used these and they generally aren't recommended. I aim to keep my nitrate under 40. Others are less stringent, some people are more stringent. Some fish aren't very tolerant of nitrates so it has to be kept lower.

Is the nitrate in your tank zero at the moment? If so, are you showing ammonia or nitrite levels? Did you cycle?

Hi, no my levels are ok, my Nitrate is @ 40ppm just would like to get it down abit that's all. It's a well established tank well cycled, I did add a Jewel Nitrate remover sponge today to help bring it down abit, this was done when i carried out my weekly part water change that was this morning, just completed a water test results Ammonia 0ppm, Nitrite 0ppm, Nitrate 40ppm, PH 7.5

 

[littlest]

ah ok. Well you won't get nitrate down to zero and you don't need to. Nitrate of 40ppm is perfectly acceptable unless you have some fish that are particularly intolerant of nitrate. The best way of removing nitrate is water changes anyway. I think the reason people don't recommend nitrate removing products is because people sometimes rely on those instead of water changes. As long as your still doing your weekly water changes I don't seem the harm, but at the same time, not really necessary.

Is there a particular reason you want it lower?

 

[brayer]

well no not really it seems thats the norm that most peoples tanks r lower than 40ppm, but maby i'm just being over causious

 

[matt121073]

Hi my nitrates are at 10% i do 2 water changes a week 20% wednesdays and 30% on sundays it keeps the water crystal clear and the fish look so healthy. I also over filter with two fluval 304 externals.
hope this helps

 

[brayer]

Hi my nitrates are at 10% i do 2 water changes a week 20% wednesdays and 30% on sundays it keeps the water crystal clear and the fish look so healthy. I also over filter with two fluval 304 externals.
hope this helps

Yes, thanks for that.

 

[littlest]

Do you know if you have nitrate in your tap water? I do, it makes it very hard to keep my tanks less than 40ppm but from what I've read it isn't an issue.

 

[TFFKes]

brayer,

I've got nitrate in the tap water same as littlest, mines about 10-20ppm, so I just do normal water changes
and try to keep it at/below 40ppm.

Kes

 

[brayer]

Thanks for your reply's I tested my tap water for Nitrate and it was 0ppm, so will carry on as normal with water changes, the fish are all fine anyway's

 

[merry78]

heavy planting will lower your nitrates a bit, but as everynone else has said, there's not much wrong with 40ppm.