Background Nitrate Levels.

[Paul70]

does anyone else have this problem?

did a nitrate test on my tap water and the current level is 40ppm!!!

so even if I do water changes every day I am replacing my water with stuff that is already at 40ppm, what crap. good old local water company. I suppose this is what prime is for tho eh?

 

[Warehouse]

Plants will help lower Nitrate.

 

[Gilli]

Dont worry about it, its not really a problem. Just aim to try to keep the readings within 20 or 30 of the 40 reading of your tap water. Its important to do thorough gravel vacs, not overfeed so uneaten food and extra poo are not hanging around and regular 30% water changes should see you right. As WAREHOUSE said use plenty of live plants which will use nitrate up.

 

[Mikaila31]

I would suggest verifying your test kit. The max nitrate levels in the US for tap water is 44ppm. I feel this is more likely the result of an inaccurate test. I would suggest retesting tap water, with API liquid test kit. Follow directions exactly, but shake bottle #2 for twice as long as it states before using it. In the end though nitrate tests are quite inaccurate. 20ppm is red, 40 ppm is red, 80ppm is ever so slightly darker red lol.

You can also buy 1 gallon of RO water, testing this should show 0ppm of nitrate. Mixing 1/2 RO and 1/2 tap should show half of your tap waters levels. This is suggested because it is easier to read the lower nitrate levels.

 

[Paul70]

I do use the api master liquid test kit and I agree that the nitrate levels can be quite hard to read. I have been on my local water companies site and it states that the nitrate levels in tap water in my area are currently 31ppm so I don't think my test was that far off.

as far as plants go as I am almost at the end of my cycle I have put 4 swords in the tank so hopefully this will help. I am going to do a 100% water change in a couple of days then get some fish so hopefully things will settle from there.

thanks for the advice.