How Much Nitrate Is Normal?

[Lizzie71]

I really should know this by now, having had a tropical tank for 3 years

I have neglected my tank for a while and have just had a bit of a revamp and clear out to try to tidy things up and improve the look of the tank and the life quality of its poor neglected inhabitants. I also bought a test kit as the one I had was years out of date. Today I tested the water and got the following.

Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 80
PH 6.8

I think that nitrate is too high but I can't remember what the safe level is?

I did a 20% water change after the test, and will check again over the weekend. Is there anything else I should be doing?

PS tank is a 2 foot (60litre) tank, temp 26 degrees. Current fish are 5 x-ray tetras, 4 platys, a BN plec and 3 zebra loaches.

 

[RustedKnight]

I really should know this by now, having had a tropical tank for 3 years

I have neglected my tank for a while and have just had a bit of a revamp and clear out to try to tidy things up and improve the look of the tank and the life quality of its poor neglected inhabitants. I also bought a test kit as the one I had was years out of date. Today I tested the water and got the following.

Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 80
PH 6.8

I think that nitrate is too high but I can't remember what the safe level is?

I did a 20% water change after the test, and will check again over the weekend. Is there anything else I should be doing?

PS tank is a 2 foot (60litre) tank, temp 26 degrees. Current fish are 5 x-ray tetras, 4 platys, a BN plec and 3 zebra loaches.

Safe should be 40ppm or below. do a 50% waterchange and you'll be fine for a couple days.

Though i would suggest 50% today, and 20-30% tomorrow, to be safe.

 

[Bignose]

Safe should be 40ppm or below. do a 50% waterchange and you'll be fine for a couple days.

Most fish will be healthy in nitrates 10 times that amount. There is very little evidence that nitrates are as dangerous as they are often made out to be. There is a good thread in the scientific section detailing how non-dangerous nitrates really are.

 

[RustedKnight]

Safe should be 40ppm or below. do a 50% waterchange and you'll be fine for a couple days.

Most fish will be healthy in nitrates 10 times that amount. There is very little evidence that nitrates are as dangerous as they are often made out to be. There is a good thread in the scientific section detailing how non-dangerous nitrates really are.

How very interesting!!..

I shall have a read, I was just vomiting forth the same thing that has been drilled into me hehe. (i'll be very happy if nitrates aren't such an issue)