Nitrate Level

[Kam]

Hi, I'm new to the forum. Have a small tropical tank (40 gallon). Kept much larger tanks many years ago but due to us moving regularly (work related) I am sticking to a smaller more manageable/portable size.

I'm having problems with the nitrate (no2). I cannot get it to lower. No matter what I do it stays at 1.0. The tank has only been set up for 4 and a half weeks. I am doing partial water changes daily, taking half the water out each time and adding concentrated bacteria. I'm cleaning the gravel daily and barely feeding the fish. They must be starving.

All other levels are perfect. Alkalinity is very slightly low but not a concern and its rising a little.

Any tips please on how to lower the nitrate?

I have not lost an fish in the last 5 days but I lost 5 before that when the nitrate was even higher. So, I have lowered it some but it refuses to go any lower.

TIA

 

[Liv15]

Your tank is probably just still cycling. Also, it's a nitrite NO2 level you have, not nitrate which is NO3. Hopefully someone will come along with some good advice. Otherwise, sometimes you just have to let the cycle run its course and keep doing water changes to stop it getting to really harmful levels for the fish. Do you know anywhere you can get some mature filter media to try and transfer some bacteria over?

This is why tanks should be ready for fish (cycled) before actually adding fish. You wouldn't put a hamster in a cage that can't be cleaned for nearly two months, so why do it to a fish? Anyway, good luck

 

[Byron]

Agree.  As you have fish in this tank, you have to keep the nitrite very low.  Daily water changes (so long as nitrite is above zero) help.  A bacterial supplement such as Tetra's SafeStart or Seachem's Stability will help; these seed the bacteria (they do not instantly "cycle") and are useful when you do not have your own as Liv15 mentioned.  Another help is to use a conditioner that detoxifies nitrite; Prime will, and another is Ultimate.  Once things have cycled and settled, you do not need to continue with these special conditioners, but they will help now.
 
There is no way to instantly cycle or speed it up; it is a natural process that can take from 2 to 8 weeks normally.  Many things factor into the cycling, which is the establishment and multiplication of the various nitrifying bacteria.
 
Byron.