Chemical Parameters Optimal For My Aquarium

[joselito.rd]

Hi, I would like to know the optimal levels of Nitrite and nitrate for a 55 gal aquarium with 4 African Cichlids, 2 Angel fish and 2 Columbian Sharks?
 

 

[TwoTankAmin]

Nitrite 0 ppm
If using and API test Nitrate under 40 ppm with 20 ppm being better. However, they can tolerate higher for a while. Nitrate is the least harmful of the 3 nitrogen compounds- ammonia-nitrite-nitrate.

 

[joselito.rd]

Well it looks like my nitrate is a little bit high, 50 ppm, how can I lower it?

 

[Ch4rlie]

Water changes will lower nitrates, this is one reason why we all do weekly water changes, helps to bring down nitrate levels.
Especially if you do not have any live plants in your tank.

Plants are also beneficial for absorbing nutrients from water including nitrates. In particular, stem plants do this best, for example Elodea/Anacharis are good for nitrate levels.

Hope that helps.

Edit - forgot to mention, sometimes tap water contains nitrates, it would be worth testing your tap water for nitrate. If you have, say, 30ppm nitrate in tap water and your tank has 30ppm nitrate, water change won't make any difference! In this sort of case, plants would help greatly.

By the way 50ppm nitrate is not too bad you should be aiming for anything below 40ppm as TTA mentions in first post.

 

[joselito.rd]

Thanks so much