I need more nitrare

[thapsus]

I bought my third tank at november. And since then I've had problems with nitrate. I have too few fishes in my tanks and plants don't like that at all. Only strong nitrate takers are doing good and others eke.

In newest tank nitrate is 0 althought it sounds overstocked.
It has 24 US gallons water in and fishes are
4 sparkling gouramys (2 inches)
7 kuhlies (almost 4 inches, but don't make much waste)
20 tiny rasboras (1 inc, Boraras brigittae and B. urophthalmoides) pic to compare size
2 Amano shrimps
4 Bamboo shrimps

Rasboras and amanos make waste as much as gasterobods and sparklings are small too but I have so many kuhlies that they should do enough waste. I guess I have so much plants that they consume all waste before I can see any. I am feeding this tanks much but even that doesn't help.


Second tank has 0 nitrates also. Before I took some fishes to new tank it was ok, nitrates were about 8. But now I have problem with this tank too. It's about 22 gallon tank and I have in it
2 Apistogramma borelliis (male 2 inces, female 1 inc)
2 Gastromyzon ? loaches (2 inches)
small adult bristlenose female, about 3 inches
shrimps



Third tank nitrates are also 0. While ago this tank was overstocked, nitrate was 30 max. So I gave 11 silvertipped tetras away. And now this tank has 0 nitrates. Seems odd that tetras did that much waste, but they did. Fishes in this 24 gallons tank are
male betta
3 Dario dario (1 inch)
5 panda corys (2 inches)




So here's my problem tanks. First sounds full, what should I do with it? Could I take some new fishes to second tank? To third tank I'd need algae eater. What would be convenient? I don't like usual fishes that much. I'd like to get some very rare species. Any ideas?


Sorry about so long post.

 

[gumshoetortis]

Hi there.

Your tanks look nice.

I am curious to know what you are attempting to do with raising the nitrates...

Is it for plant growth? If so, there are other means to obtain that...
From my experience, a high nitrate level in my plant tank caused 'holes' in almost all of the sword plants leaves, as well as frustrated the snot out of the fish. (The nitrates were pretty high, around 200ppm; I assume that you are trying to maintain' a lower nitrate level)

If you are looking to make your plants grow, and if you are not already, try adding a liquid iron supplement, or iron plugs, or even co2.

Plants are good for removing some of the nitrates from the water...

If you do wish to raise them anyway, more fish will do the trick, though it isn't recommended. Your first tank sounds loaded enough, and in time, nitrates will build.

Um, yea. Hope that helps.

gumshoe

 

[gumshoetortis]

A pleco or fly fox or chinese algea eater would be a good addition to any tank for algea consumtion. You could get away with spreading out your fish in all the tanks, if they are all nice to each other. What kind of rare species do you want to raise?

gumshoe

 

[thapsus]

Thanks about answers.

I would like to see for example 5 ppm nitrates. Just a little nitrate for me to know that there is some left overs after plants have taken all they need. Now some aren't getting any I think. I don't want high nitrates of course, but slight hint would be nice.

I already add CO2 and use fertilizers but I can't get any with nitrate. CO2 and other ferts don't do anything if plants don't get main nutrient=nitrate. So nitrate is minimumfactor here.

Nitrate doesn't raise at all even in long period of time. I've tried once not to change water over three weeks. But then I had to change because pH dropps when water olders. I would buy kaliumnitrate but only one source sells it in whole country and I'd had to travel to get it. So adding more fish would be much easier.

All fishes you suggested are nice but in my opinion too big. Well I don't know what I would like to have. Thats kind of the root of this problem. I can't find any fish I'd want, so I have " too few" fishes. And I allready have fishes that take territory in all tanks so I can't get more of them even if I wanted. Bottoms are also quite full so it's not wise to add more fishes to bottom. I end up with space for shoals but I havent found any I'd like. Common tetras and barbs are too boring. I wan't something different.

Any suggestions?

 

[pahansen]

A pleco or fly fox or chinese algea eater would be a good addition to any tank for algea consumtion. You could get away with spreading out your fish in all the tanks, if they are all nice to each other. What kind of rare species do you want to raise?

Not to overreact to gumshoe here, as I know he was trying to be helpful, but please don't buy any of those fish simply for algae consumption.

The name pleco applies to a vast number of suckermouth catfish. There are a variety of colors and appearances within that group, and certainly some are more rare than others. I love them. That being said, many plecos are omnivorous, and some are more likely to eat algae than others. I have a Gold Nugget pleco, and he would sooner starve than eat algae in my tank! I bought him thinking that he would help cut down on the algae, and I was very disappointed in that regard. (He's still my favorite fish, though!) So if you are looking for a pleco to help with the algae, post to the Catfish board for suggestions. I'd hate for you to be disappointed with your choice.

Flying Foxes are dangerous purchases unless you know the scientific name of the fish in question. The name Flying Fox is frequently used as a common name for other fish, such as the Chinese Algae Eater, and the "true" Flying Fox Epalzeorhynchus kalopterus can be territorial with other fish.

Chinese Algae Eaters are some of the most misunderstood fish in the industry. They are often recommended for algae removal, but they generally stop consuming algae as they become adults. They also become aggressive with age, eating the slime coats from other fish in the tank, and will grow to be quite large (6-11"). I have yet to read about anyone who stayed happy with these fish (for their algae eating abilities) for long.

That all being said, allow me to recommend my favorite algae eater, the Siamese Algae Eater (SAE) or Crossocheilus siamensis. SAEs look quite similar to Chinese Algae Eaters and to the true Flying Fox. There is a good website on telling the differences among these fish at
http/www.aquatic-gardeners.org/cyprinid.html Or, if you choose, you can read it in Finnish! http/www.aquatic-gardeners.org/finnishSAE.html

I have had a wonderful experience with my SAE -- in less than a week, he stripped my tank of all algae, and it was in the middle of a tremendous algae bloom. I have had no algae problems since. Some caution should be taken, as these fish will reach up to 6" in length -- your tanks may be too small for them in the long run. Also, SAEs may become territorial with other SAEs (they are quite peaceful with other fish), so only one or 6+ in a tank, please. SAEs are not particularly colorful or "pretty" fish, and I doubt that anyone would consider them to be rare or exotic-looking, but they are workhorses and do their jobs quite well. Just remember to be absolutely sure that the fish you are buying is a true SAE.

Good luck,
Pamela