Nitrate Sudden Increase! Help!

[mozza7avfc]

My aquarium has been established for around 14 months now, i have never had any sudden issues regarding the levels within the aquarium, however the past couple of weeks my nitrate levels have shot up to like 40 at one stage! I test my water regularly with my api test kit, My levels now read: ammonia 0, ph 7.6, nitrite 0, nitrate 20.
I am now currently having to do water changes everyday! My LFS said it could be your filter pads so i changed one of the filter pads and left the other in the filter still, to help keep some of the filter pads bacteria etc...

Is there any reason why this sudden rise in nitrate would occur?
Its jus in the last couple of weeks i have had four of my fish die now its really sad and annoying!
Please help!

 

[IT-FishGuy]

Might want to look for anything dead in the aquarium. Nitrates go up when matter decays in the tank. That could be it and if you haven't changed the pads on the filter that's another issue. Consider getting a biowheel if you are really concerned about the biological aspect of filtration or go the cheap route and stagger the change of those pads. ) If you like live plants they'll take some of that nitrate out of the water as well, but that's another thing.

 

[char la]

Ignore your LFS, they clearly have no idea about the nitrogen cycle. Nitrate are only toxic at very high levels, 40ppm isnt that bad and i wouldnt expect your fish to die from it. What fish have you got?

The easiest, cheapest and fastest way to reduce nitrate levels is by water changes. For an abnormal rise in nitrate to occur you would have had a rise in ammonia then nitrite, that would be a more likely reason for your fish dying. The only other way would be from your tap water, so testing that would be a good idea.

 

[mozza7avfc]

Ive got a clown loach, a plec, neons,1 cherry barb, 4 danios, and 3 tiger barbs (there was five), the fish that have died are 2 tiger barbs, 1 dwarf gourami and a platy!
Altho all my tiger barbs are staying still mid tank with there noses pointing down! This is now really frustrating me, i have jus done another 20% water change!
Altho i saw my platy lying on the bottom of the tank when i came back from work dead, i went to get my net to fish him out, when i came back he has gone! I have searched everywer and i mean everywhere, i reaaly dont no wer hes gone! i have jus done another 20% water change and removed all plants all possible hiding places, looked in the filter n hes jus not ther! its ridiculous! any ideas?
I have also purchased some tetra aqua nitrate minus, would this be good to use?

 

[mozza7avfc]

Right i have jus come back from work, and i have just found the dead platy and i have just tested my water, my nitrate levels have gone down to 10. However my ammonia level has risen slightly its not quite 0.25 but its not the zero it was yesterday, however i was expecting this as i changed one of the filter pads! But now one of the tiger barbs, the smallest one is swimming bit weird with its fins down, shall i add the nitrate minus??

Please help

 

[char la]

Nitrate minus only works over a long period of time, it wont work straight away. Besides nitrate isnt your problem, its down to 10 which is fine. What i would do is treat them with an anti internal bacteria. Just remember to remove any carbon and zeolite from your filter. Do keep your eye on that ammonia though just incase it rises.