Dramatic Nitrate Rises... How To Bring Down?

[DannyBlackbourn]

Hey everyone.

My cycle has finished and I noticed high Nitrate rises in the past few days...

I have performed a 25% water change the other day and Just tested my water and its coming in at 80ppm.

Should I perform a bigger water change today? say 50-70%?

Any help would be appreciated!

 

[OldMan47]

You judge how big and how often to do your water change by the nitrate levels. If you have a heavy load of fish, you may need to do two 50% changes a week to keep up. If you run lightly loaded like I do, you could change 30% every 2 weeks. It depends on your loading, feeding habits, etc. and there are too many variables to predict so you test the water to see how you are doing.

 

[DannyBlackbourn]

You judge how big and how often to do your water change by the nitrate levels. If you have a heavy load of fish, you may need to do two 50% changes a week to keep up. If you run lightly loaded like I do, you could change 30% every 2 weeks. It depends on your loading, feeding habits, etc. and there are too many variables to predict so you test the water to see how you are doing.

my current stock load is:

4 Guppies ( 2 of which are fry about 2 weeks old )
5 Amano Shrimp

I feed the shrimp 1/2 times a day... depending on how hungry they look.

I have been quite bad and feeding the Guppies everyday also... ( I will gradually lower this to once/twice a week )

I have just added a Gourami to the tank also... and now I think that will be enough for stocking that tank ( If it isn't overstocked already... 25-30L tank)

 

[OldMan47]

There is no problem feeding fish every day unless you overfeed them each time. Your fish stocking is getting close to the limit but it should be a load that you can cope with using enough water changes.

 

[doggiebag]

have you tested your tap water. I only ask as mine was coming in with 10 nitrates, but tested this week and it now has 20 nitrates......seems to vary throughout the year, I test mine once a month and can see fluctuations in ammonia traces and nitrates rising.......it may be your tap water is higher at the moment....it not then a good big change will help.

 

[DannyBlackbourn]

Thank you

I have just performed a 50% water change...

I also have had to take the plants that I had in there out because the shrimp have totally ripped them apart and still I have bit's of plant floating around... it doesn't look that pleasant I must say!
I have picked out most of the plant pieces... but there still are bit's in there... will that effect anything?

I haven't got the cash to get new plant's just yet... but I am hoping to build a moss wall at some point. Hope this doesn't effect the tank that much!

 

[doggiebag]

i think the plants may cause some ammonia as they rot.....which causes nitrites, then nitrates.......may be adding to the issue?

 

[DannyBlackbourn]

I still have yet to have any sign of NitrIte in the past few days...

Like I say I have taken the plants out now so will carry on testing and see how things go... Poxy shrimp ruining my tank haha!

might take them back and get some corries

 

[OldMan47]

Plant matter decaying in a tank will cause an increase in the biological load so try to get out what you can of the floating bits.

 

[DannyBlackbourn]

I have taken as mush as I can get out!

I think the decaying plants also clogged up my filter... which I cleaned out the other day!

Hopefully things will be fine again soon!