NitrAte Levels

[Talisman]

Ok so i understand that Ammonia gets turned into Nitrite which brings the ammonia level down.

I know that then the Nitrite gets turned to NitrAte, which brings the nitrite levels down.

But what brings NitrAte levels down.

My tap water shows a 25mg/l level of NitrAte to start with. And so turning Nitrite to Nitrate i thought i would see it rise, but instead my Ammonia is 0, Nitrites are going down and so are my NitrAte levels.

What is happening to the NitrAtes???

 

[modernhamlet]

Is your tank planted?

Other than regular water changes, the only thing that brings nitrates down, in my knowledge, are healthy plants.

 

[Talisman]

yeah i have 8 plants in there. hmmm thats good news then. thanks

 

[Cheese Specialist]

Is it a 260litre tank? If so, you are going to want a lot more than 8 plants to eat up your NitrAte. Try adding more plants, otherwise you may not only have a problem with sick fish but algae too.

HTH

 

[Talisman]

Yeah a 260Ltr. Only been running 3 weeks Cheese and are building it up bit by bit. some plants have just gone rotten after a few days so adding new ones as the others die off, and when some start to take i will add more, a few have doubled in size and are doing really weel. others the fish eat so i have to get more lol

 

[Gunnie]

Here's a couple of links which can help you have plants in your tank that will thrive:

Setting up your first planted tank

Plantguide

I think the prettiest tanks are ones with live plants!