High Nitrate

[panda_cory]

I was hoping to get some fish but my nitrate is at 50, so I have done a 30% water change. It only has a shrimp in at the moment that was free stuck to a plant I bought. The filter is mature and everything else is ok. Is there anything else I can do or will the water change be enough. I am going to check Nitrate as I am hopefully puting some bottom feeders and plecos in as my sister is talking another runing tank.

Any advice on how to lower it or should the water change be enough?

Thanks, Panda_cory.

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

I get 40-50ppm nitrate straight out of the tap in Southampton, so do not panick too much, Liverpool's could be very similar. Most fish are fine until levels reach ~300ppm nitrate.

 

[panda_cory]

So if I try to get it down as much as possible, after that the fish should be ok?

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Test your tap water, you can only get your tank as low as your tap water, unless you have a heavily planted setup full of fast growing plants under T5 lighting and plenty of daily ferts/carbon dioxide.

If ammonia and nitrite readings are fine in the tank, leave things be unless it is weekly water change time.

 

[panda_cory]

I have some plants but not loads.

I will check tap water now.
Thanks.

My tap water is at about 25.