Nitrate Levels

[broxiebear]

hi ppl i have had a tank set up for a few months after cycling and after my ghost fish died i was told that my nitrate levels were to high i got a tast kit and have used king british safe water and it seems to be staying at the same level

no3 50mg/l
no2 0mg/l
gh 6 d
kh 3 d
ph 6.8


is this too high or ok are they just not wanting to give me another fish for free . i do regular water changes aswell so not that i dont think

 

[WILDER]

Need more info.
Tap nitrate reading to see if you can get it down any further.
Tank size in gallons or litres.
How many fish and which type.

 

[broxiebear]

i have a 25 " length
12"inch bredth
19 " high not sure how many gallons how do i test nitrates in tap water

i have rainbow shark
silver shark
2 swordtails
4 guppies
4 cardinal tetras
and two gouramies

 

[WILDER]

Work it out here.
http/www.petfish.net/calculators/calculate.php
The silver shark which is a bala shark need to be in shoals and need large tanks of over 100 gallons.

 

[broxiebear]

hi sorry for being so thick my tank is 26 gallons
shark isn't a bala just a standadrd silver shark dont know there proper name never got balla cause heard they can be aggressive

 

[WILDER]

A silver shark is a bala.
I would rehome the bala as he needs to be in a shoal and large tank.
The red rainbow shark needs a 40 gallon tank.
What filter are you using in the tank.

 

[broxiebear]

just read about the shark sorry didnt realises it was infact a bala my bad the guy in the shop said it was not 1 sorry

 

[WILDER]

http/www.brooklands.co.nz/tropical/silver_shark.htm

 

[broxiebear]

hi its a fluval 2 plus

how do i test my tap water just run test under tap or in a cup?

 

[WILDER]

To small that filter with the fish you have in at the moment, need at least a fluval 4, could still run the fluval 2 as well.

Fill the test tube up and do the test, leave thirty minutes for an accurate reading.

 

[broxiebear]

i will get 1 this weekend just got this 1 too ask would this do and they said yes are the nitrates to high at the moment ?
sorry but think i have had sum duff info from store i have a baby fry to but dont know what it is just appeared 1 day but there was only the 1

 

[broxiebear]

i will get 1 this weekend just got this 1 too ask would this do and they said yes are the nitrates to high at the moment ?
sorry but think i have had sum duff info from store i have a baby fry to but dont know what it is just appeared 1 day but there was only the 1

 

[WILDER]

No its not dangerous that usually in the 100, but best to try and keep nitrates below 50 if you can.
Thats why we need that tap nitrate reading as it will tell us if you are able to get it down any furher.

 

[broxiebear]

i have a fast test kit says it takes a couple of seconds
no nitrates showing on strip

 

[WILDER]

What make of test kit is it, sure it a nitrate one and not a nitrite test kit.
Not one of them strips things is it.
If its 0 your shouldnt be having such a high nitrate reading.
How long has the tank been set up, and when did you last touch the sponges.
Take a look at the sponges to see if there really mucked up.
You do need a larger filter for your tank with its stocking.