High Nitrate

[Arcticfox1977]

Ever since I started dosing my plants with ei ferts I've experienced high nitrates. I test nitrate with the api master kit. I shake number 2 bottle for a minute hard while banging it off my other hand. The results are 80ppm. The following day after dosing it drops to 40ppm. Are these levels safe for my fish? My stock is in my SIG.
I've heard fish can tolerate nitrate to a certain high level, but I feel these are extremely high.

Thanks.

 

[BerryAttack]

well if you have a 95 L (25 gallon) tank I would say you have the high nitrate because you are way over stocked.
you have 18 fish in a 25 gallon, must look nice, but up your water changes everyday to bring down the levels. when that is under control then start rehoming some of the fish in other tanks.

 

[Arcticfox1977]

I've had this level of fish now for 3 weeks. Nitrate has never been that high. I started the ei ferts a few days ago.

 

[levahe]

The fert's add a lot of nitrates to the water, this is normal and nothing to worry about. Honestly if I was you I would put the test kit away for now and just test if you have any issues. The idea behind E.I. fert's is to have a excess of nutrients in the water so that the plant never has a shortage of nutrients, and that leaves you the freedom and peace of mind to then just make sure that your co2 and flow is OK.

 

[toastie]

i cant get mine down under 40 ish , iv got 12 small fish in a 64l , im now sure the tanks to small and am on ebay hunting for a big um . good luck with getting it down cheers d 

 

[Arcticfox1977]

Thank you. This was the response I was looking for.