Nitrate Help

[wrighty8529]

Hi Just Done A Test On My Tank However I Don't Get The NITRATE (No3) What's At 10ppm Is That Ok And What Will Make It Go To 0ppm.
Hope You Can Help.

Test Reading.

Ph:7.6
Ammonia (Nh3/Nh4):0ppm
Nitrite(No2): 0ppm
Nitrite(No3): 10ppm

 

[Mauigirl]

Nitrate is the end result of the cycle and can really, for the most part only be controlled with partial water changes by the average fish keeper.

You will likely never see a 0 Nitrate reading, 10ppm is not bad at all, It will reduced with your weekly partial changes.

Sounds like your tank is doing good.

 

[Yanks15]

Not sure why you are worrying. Sounds fine to me. I had tanks for years with a steady 20ppm NO3.

 

[wrighty8529]

Thank's For The Advice Pl My Tank Is OK But Just Wanted Know If Its OK Like That I Relay Appreciate The Help.

 

[phoenixgsd]

have you got live plants, they apparently like nitrate

 

[wrighty8529]

Ye mate I have live plants in I have two.

 

[4seasons]

Lots of water supplies have nitrates in them. My tap water runs between 5-10ppm nitrate. My heavy planted tank can keep it that low but I wouldn't start worrying about nitrates till they turn red.

 

[cms091]

In Wolverhampton you will probably be in the south staffs water region. The nitrate out of the tap will be in the 20-40ppm range. The legal maximum is 50ppm. So water changes, partial or complete, will not lower your nitrate!

Real plants will lower it but as lon as it doesn't get over about 80ppm you have nothing to worry about.

Check out your own area stats on this site
http/www.south-staffs-water.co.uk/your_home/water_quality_flash_map.asp

Cathy

 

[zain611]

10ppm isnt too high but i heard 40ppm is were it can stress the fish but if you want to keep nitrates down buy plants which probably may be abit more work as you may need to buy nutrients for it or you can do water changes

 

[Dazzler666]

So ive researched below 50ppm is ok. Water changes, Plants & plenty of tank airation helps to dispel Nitrates.
At those levels you talking about you got no probls at all so just ........ Relax!!!!

 

[Dazzler666]

Oh meant to add, your Nitrates should never be at zero as if my understanding is correct, it generally means your tank is in a cycle (as stated, bacteria break down ammonia, which in turns becomes Nitrites which is broken down by other bacteria which in turn becomes ..... Yep you got it, Nitrite!!! ). However this does not get broken down just either removed via water changes or absorbed as such by plants or helped dispelled Into the atomsphere by airation.
Hope this helps!!

 

[waterdrop]

One of the basic skills we hope our beginning freshwater hobbyists will come out of the "new freshwater tank" section with is a good understanding that nitrate(NO3) typically really needs to get removed via a good weekly water change habit and that that is an important responsibility for the beginner. Although it is true that heavily planted tanks may have significant portions of nitrates removed by the plants, by far the typical thing going on in many of our forum discussions are relatively new hobbyists (or for that matter older hobbyists who just haven't paid attention that much) still needing to fully understand the various benefits of regular water changes.

In fact, another interesting bit about nitrates I've always thought is that the particular substance, and it's test, really serves as a "canary in the coal mine" sort of signal. Tank water that is not changed regularly will sit around and evaporate. When that happens, the minerals, nitrates and actually hundreds of other things just stay in the tank. For the most part only the pure H20 evaporates out. One way to get a guage on the level of "stuff" that has stayed in the tank is to be watching your NO3 over time. Everyone's baseline for this will be different, mostly due to the differences in source water. But the important thing is that if at some point you see nitrates make an unusual climb (and often if one is honest with one's self, it will correspond with those times when you've vacationed for multiple weekends or whatever, lol) it can be a tip-off that water changes (with good technique) are in order to return your water to a state that is fresher and that more closely matches the chemistry of your source water.

(sorry, don't know why I feel so wordy this evening!)
~~waterdrop~~

 

[Dazzler666]

WD ... Very well worded i must say!! Though im not sure i understand you what i just read!! (had a few beers mind!!! Lol). In essence i totally agree. Water changes, water changes & even then ....., more water changes!!!
They remove Nitrates & replenish VITAL vitamins & minerals for our fish hence, my understanding & regime is dont keep fish if you cant/dont like water changes!!! Pain = Yes, necessary = YES!!!!
I learnt this the hard way!!! Boooo

 

[Justaerin]

Am I right in thinking that the conversion between mg/l to ppm is the same ie 1mg/l is 1ppm?

 

[cms091]

Am I right in thinking that the conversion between mg/l to ppm is the same ie 1mg/l is 1ppm?

In water, Yes. Due to the fact that 1l of water = 1kg and there are 1,000,000mg in a kg
1ppm = one part per million, not an SSI unit but widely used.

Cathy