Nitrate? Help Me Please.

[sweetswimmers]

Here's my tank so far.
Ammonia-0 mg/L
Nitrite- 0 mg/L
Nitrate- 40 mg/L

and pH-7.6

I have a tropical community tank (a guppy, red wag platies, and mollies with two peppered corydoras catfish).

And two questions:
1. Is the pH right?
2. What is the safe level of nitrate in this type of tank and how can I reduce it?

If I should do water changes, how often?

Ooops, that was more than 2 questions, but oh well! =D

 

[Lhutch]

yea that nitrate is fine,ph is a little high but is ok,do a water change a week

 

[sweetswimmers]

yea that nitrate is fine,ph is a little high but is ok,do a water change a week

How much of a water change?

 

[Dark Wolf]

around 20% does the job for me

 

[doresy]

How long has your tank been cycled? Did you do a fishless cycle or are you cycling WITH fish?

Have you checked the nitrate level in your tap water? Mine runs at 40ppm so my tank level will never be lower than that even with water changes

 

[rdd1952]

The pH is fine. Most fish can adapt to a wide pH range. The important thing about pH is that it remains stable, not so much what the exact number is. The nitrate are a little higher than you really want them but 40 ppm isn't toxic. Some people in the UK have that in their tap water.. High nitrates can help feed algae so you should try to keep them low with wekly 15 to 25 percent water changes. Not only will that keep the nitrates low but it will help keep the impurities and needed minerals in the water at the proper levels.