Nitirate

[newfishaddict]

Hi, I would like to know the sources of nitrate in a home aquarium.

I know that bacteria (nitrobacter?) convert nitite to nitrate.

I know that overfeeding increases nitrate levels.
Is this due to only excess wastes produced by fish OR does it also include rotting food?

Does fish "poop" on the substrate eventually contribute to nitrate levels?

Do rotting plants produce nitrate, or do they produce any wastes that are eventually converted to nitrate?

How does algae affect nitrate?

Any comments would be appreciated

 

[SkiFletch]

Overfeeding produces excess nitrate both from rotting food which is converted by bacteria into nitrate, and excess waste converted into nitrate.

Fish poop eventually contributes to nitrate.

Rotting plants produce wastes that are converted into nitrates

Algae often occurs in tanks with excess nitrate because algae fixes nitrate and uses it as a food to grow itself.


As a general rule of thumb, nothing produces nitrate itself. But any form of waste, uneaten food, fish poop, dead plants, or anything decomposing will produce ammonia. That ammonia is fixed into nitrate by various nitrobacter. Plants and algae use nitrate as food, and the cycle starts all over again. Other than using plants, the only way to lower nitrate levels is through water changes.

 

[dwarfgourami]

And adding to the above: some nitrate is often present in the tap water (mine often has levels of 20-40 ppm).

Plants feed on nitrate, so if you have healthy plants that will keep nitrates levels down.

Aim at not being more than 10 ppm over the tap water and preferably not having higher levels than 40 ppm. It is a lot less harmful than nitrites though. Worth keeping an eye on though as nitrate levels significantly higher than those of tap water may mask an underlying problem.

 

[newfishaddict]

Overfeeding produces excess nitrate both from rotting food which is converted by bacteria into nitrate, and excess waste converted into nitrate.

Fish poop eventually contributes to nitrate.

Rotting plants produce wastes that are converted into nitrates

Algae often occurs in tanks with excess nitrate because algae fixes nitrate and uses it as a food to grow itself.


As a general rule of thumb, nothing produces nitrate itself. But any form of waste, uneaten food, fish poop, dead plants, or anything decomposing will produce ammonia. That ammonia is fixed into nitrate by various nitrobacter. Plants and algae use nitrate as food, and the cycle starts all over again. Other than using plants, the only way to lower nitrate levels is through water changes.

WOW! thanks for the great replies, that is exactly what I wanted to know.
Thanks again!

And adding to the above: some nitrate is often present in the tap water (mine often has levels of 20-40 ppm).

Plants feed on nitrate, so if you have healthy plants that will keep nitrates levels down.

Aim at not being more than 10 ppm over the tap water and preferably not having higher levels than 40 ppm. It is a lot less harmful than nitrites though. Worth keeping an eye on though as nitrate levels significantly higher than those of tap water may mask an underlying problem.

I have nitrate of <0.01ppm (mg/L) in my tap water. I luckily live in a place where the tap water is PERFECT for aquariums(and humans).