Curiosity About Nitrates

[charlton]

hi all, i have a 25 gal tank fully stocked that isn't heavily planted but i've got about 6 plants that are growing nicely ! I'm still going to do water changes because i quite enjoy giving it good clean weekly but my question is this, all water stats are fine, tap water is 40 ppm but just checked my tank levels and the nitrate has lowered to about 20 ppm so do i need to really do changes (i thought the whole idea was to reduce the nitrate levels). This isn't a one off, i noticed it for the last month or so ! I'm putting this down to the plants i've got ! Is there any other reasons to do water changes ?

cheers

charlton

 

[AngelOfDeath]

the idea is to raise nitrate, by cycling ammonia into nitrite, and thus nitrate, nitrate is less harmful to fish than ammonia and nitrite, do nothing over a 30% water change as this wont affect colonisation of nitrate.

 

[CFC]

Water changes don't only reduce nitrates but also dilute toxins in the water before they can reach problem causing levels and replenish the buffers in the water that keep the pH stable. Depending on your stocking levels and the hardness of your water you could only do water changes bi-weekly and in lower ammounts (say 10% every two weeks) but there is nothing that can replace water changes all togther.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

Water changes don't only reduce nitrates but also dilute toxins in the water before they can reach problem causing levels and replenish the buffers in the water that keep the pH stable. Depending on your stocking levels and the hardness of your water you could only do water changes bi-weekly and in lower ammounts (say 10% every two weeks) but there is nothing that can replace water changes all togther.

agreed

people with heavily planted tanks will actually add nitrates to the water as the plants absorb them, and while nitrate reduction is a big reason for water changes, it's not the only one. if you want further info there's a few topics in the scientific section discussing this in more detail

 

[charlton]

the idea is to raise nitrate, by cycling ammonia into nitrite, and thus nitrate, nitrate is less harmful to fish than ammonia and nitrite, do nothing over a 30% water change as this wont affect colonisation of nitrate.

i didn't think the idea was to raise nitrate just this was the last stage of the cycle, so although nitrate is less harmful than anything else surely the lower the better ! My confusion was is there any other reason to do w/c ?

cheers for the quick reply though

 

[charlton]

Water changes don't only reduce nitrates but also dilute toxins in the water before they can reach problem causing levels and replenish the buffers in the water that keep the pH stable. Depending on your stocking levels and the hardness of your water you could only do water changes bi-weekly and in lower ammounts (say 10% every two weeks) but there is nothing that can replace water changes all togther.

agreed

people with heavily planted tanks will actually add nitrates to the water as the plants absorb them, and while nitrate reduction is a big reason for water changes, it's not the only one. if you want further info there's a few topics in the scientific section discussing this in more detail

ahh that answers my question thanks, i'll have a read up on it !! Didn't think reducing nitrates could be the only reason otherwise all the lazy people out there would just have loads of plants to have an easy life