Nitrates won't reduce

[Essjay]

When tap water has zero nitrate, the nitrate in a tank is made from ammonia by the good bacteria. The first type turn ammonia into nitrite and the second type turn nitrite into nitrate.
Plants need nitrogen to grow, and aquarium plants get their nitrogen from ammonia. And they turn it into protein rather than nitrite and nitrate. This is how plants help to keep tank nitrate low.
Fast growing plants take up more ammonia than slow growing plants (like anubias). Floating plants are very good at taking up ammonia because they can get CO2 from the air and they are very near the lights so they can grow very fast. Look for water sprite (Ceratopteris thalictroides), Amazon frogbit (Limnobium laevigatum) or water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes)

Another way to keep nitrate low is by keeping ammonia low. Too many fish will make a lot of ammonia. Uneaten fish food will decompose to make ammonia. A lot of debris in the gravel/on the sand and the brown goo left to build up in the filter will all make ammonia. And all this ammonia is turned into nitrate by the bacteria.

 

[gabrielgalhano]

When tap water has zero nitrate, the nitrate in a tank is made from ammonia by the good bacteria. The first type turn ammonia into nitrite and the second type turn nitrite into nitrate.
Plants need nitrogen to grow, and aquarium plants get their nitrogen from ammonia. And they turn it into protein rather than nitrite and nitrate. This is how plants help to keep tank nitrate low.
Fast growing plants take up more ammonia than slow growing plants (like anubias). Floating plants are very good at taking up ammonia because they can get CO2 from the air and they are very near the lights so they can grow very fast. Look for water sprite (Ceratopteris thalictroides), Amazon frogbit (Limnobium laevigatum) or water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes)

Another way to keep nitrate low is by keeping ammonia low. Too many fish will make a lot of ammonia. Uneaten fish food will decompose to make ammonia. A lot of debris in the gravel/on the sand and the brown goo left to build up in the filter will all make ammonia. And all this ammonia is turned into nitrate by the bacteria.

Noted! Thanks for the tips.
I'll try to get some of the plants you mentioned!

I don't have too many fish in my tank, but sometimes it's not me that feeds them cause i study far from home so it is possible that sometimes they get fed too much food that contributes to the ammonia situation...

 

[Bruce Leyland-Jones]

I don't have too many fish in my tank, but sometimes it's not me that feeds them cause i study far from home so it is possible that sometimes they get fed too much food that contributes to the ammonia situation...

All advice given so far has been good.
Having someone else feeding your fish, when they don't know what they're doing, can cause problems. I suggest you make up little packets of food, with notes saying when to feed, so your helper can stop guessing and simply follow your instruction. Over-feeding, as you know, is a serious issue and probably causes more dead fish than any other error.

 

[gabrielgalhano]

All advice given so far has been good.
Having someone else feeding your fish, when they don't know what they're doing, can cause problems. I suggest you make up little packets of food, with notes saying when to feed, so your helper can stop guessing and simply follow your instruction. Over-feeding, as you know, is a serious issue and probably causes more dead fish than any other error.

I usually try to teach my brother the best I can. But I can't be sure that he follows everything correctly as I taught him. That packets idea seams a lot easier and trustful. I'm going to try it next time!

 

[ClownLurch]

All advice given so far has been good.
Having someone else feeding your fish, when they don't know what they're doing, can cause problems. I suggest you make up little packets of food, with notes saying when to feed, so your helper can stop guessing and simply follow your instruction. Over-feeding, as you know, is a serious issue and probably causes more dead fish than any other error.

We leave one of those plastic sun-sat labelled weekly vitamin tablet compartment type thingys for whoever’s feeding the fish when we’re away. No idea what they’re called.
Little everyday for a weeks worth. A little every other day for a fortnights as it comes back around to the correct days if you catch my drift.

 

[Bruce Leyland-Jones]

We leave one of those plastic sun-sat labelled weekly vitamin tablet compartment type thingys for whoever’s feeding the fish when we’re away. No idea what they’re called.
Little everyday for a weeks worth. A little every other day for a fortnights as it comes back around to the correct days if you catch my drift.

They're called dosette boxes in the trade.

 

[Slaphppy7]

I just call them weekly vitamin tablet compartment type thingys.

And, they are perfect for dosing food for helpers while the fishkeeper is away....

 

[gabrielgalhano]

They're called dosette boxes in the trade.

I just call them weekly vitamin tablet compartment type thingys.

And, they are perfect for dosing food for helpers while the fishkeeper is away....

I guess you're talking about those boxes to typically put medecine, right?

 

[Slaphppy7]

I guess you're talking about those boxes to typically put medecine, right?

View attachment 140908

Precisely.

 

[Bruce Leyland-Jones]

I guess you're talking about those boxes to typically put medecine, right?

View attachment 140908

Yes...although you could spend a lot of time with little bags.

 

[ClownLurch]

I just call them weekly vitamin tablet compartment type thingys.

And, they are perfect for dosing food for helpers while the fishkeeper is away....

….and that’s why you’re a mod and I’m a mere fish herder.