High Nitrate Level

[dransy]

Hi guys , my nitrate levels would appear to be through the roof!

Im using a six in 1 test kit with the colours on , everything is fine but my nitrate colour match says 250! water change.

Ive done 2 , 50% water changes this week along with cleaning the gravel and filter pads and also replaced the top wool one , the nitrate went down to the 100 colour but today is back up to 250!

All the fish seem fine no change in behavouir at all.

I checked the tap water straight from the tap and it had zero nitrates.

This is my first tank but its well established , bought second hand from my mum , going on for 2 years established now.

Tank is around 125l , 35 gallon i think

filter is a juwel bioflow 400

Many thanks
Dransy

 

[CezzaXV]

How many fish/what types of fish do you have in your tank?

It would also be worth knowing what the nitrate reading of your tap water is.

 

[roadmaster]

If there are no plant's,and no fertilizer's such as KNO3 being added, then high nitrates are indication of ..over stocking,over feeding,poor maint(few water changes),or all of the above.
Water changes twice a week of 35 % for three week's should bring level's down, and reducing feeding's to once a day small amount, will help as well.

 

[dransy]

The tap water reading came in as zero

fish are
6 neons
3 red eyes
1 silver dolaer
1 dwarf gourami
2 of some other gouramis , there red and blue
2 sailfins
and a common pleco

Excuse the odd ball most of them came with the tank i need rid of most of them!

I have java and xmos moss aswell as some dwarf grass if that makes any difference

 

[smithyif]

are you using test strips ? or test tube test kits ?

 

[dransy]

There test strips the ones you dip in water and match colours up

 

[CezzaXV]

Try using a liquid test kit, they tend to be much more accurate.