Nitrate Levels

[Cubby]

My Nitrate level seems to be very high. Everything else is fine...

Ph - steady at 7.5
Nitrite - 0

...but the the Nitrate is 110(ish).


Is this normal? I've got it in my head that it should be lower, a lot lower, but no idea how to reduce it. I've been doing about a 10% water change everyday for the last week but nothing changes (and yes I've de-chlorinated my tap water first). Any help would be appreciated.

 

[aaronnorth]

it should be at the most 40ppm

Do bigger water changes, that is the only way, up to 50%

 

[Colin_T]

A 10% water change won't do anything to lower the nitrates. Try doing a 30-50% water change and grave clean the tank. Then you should notice a drop in the levels.
Check your tap water too and see what that is reading. Depending on where you live there might be nitrates in the mains water supply.
You want to keep the nitrates as low as possible, preferably below 30ppm.

 

[waterdrop]

Yes, agree with the above excellent advice from aaron and colin.

 

[Cubby]

Thanks ladds.

I just done a large water change last weekend (50%ish) as it went a few weeks (ok 1 month ) without a clean. It's never been right since.

 

[Colin_T]

do a 50% water change and gravel clean each day (or every couple of days) for a week. That will get the nitrates down really fast and might even stimulate the fish a bit

 

[Miss Wiggle]

Thanks ladds.

I just done a large water change last weekend (50%ish) as it went a few weeks (ok 1 month ) without a clean. It's never been right since.

you just need to catch up on the maintenance a bit then, do a 50% change every couple of days along with some good gravel vaccing nad the nitrate will come down.