Nitrate Problem

[Lord Fishheart]

Just done a water change and got the following readings:

PH - 8.4
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate 5.0
GH - 20dkh
KH - 12dkh

Why is there a trace of Nitrate? anybody know?

 

[Truck]

whats your nitrate reading from the tap? its probably that i have 5ppm of nitrates of the tap so i guess im lucky

 

[three-fingers]

As above.

Most tanks have nitrate readings, I would expect more in an African cichlid tank. How long have you had your test kit?

Nitrate isn't a problem though, apparently fish can easily live in over 100ppm nitrate levels and have no adverse affects.

Only things like mollies in freshwater and German rams in hard alkaline water seem to care much about it being over 40ppm.

 

[kj23502]

^don't agree.

It's best to keep nitrate under 40ppm. I'd never advise anyone to keep their fish in 100ppm or more if there tap water was less than that.

 

[Truck]

^don't agree.

It's best to keep nitrate under 40ppm. I'd never advise anyone to keep their fish in 100ppm or more if there tap water was less than that.

nitrate only becomes toxic to fish at approximatly 400 ppm, but it is best to keep it below 40 ppm

 

[pippoodle]

my best advice is to do a test of your tap water so you have a baseline result

some places in the uk have 130ppm of nitrates in their tap water
some fish such as discus and marines dont like nitrates over 20 ppm

most tropicals apart from the less hardy ones are ok 100 ppm
aim to keep it below 40 ppm

weekly 25-40% water changes will keep nitrate levels in check

 

[aaronnorth]

some places in the uk have 130ppm of nitrates in their tap water

The UK limit is 50ppm!

 

[theshadowinc]

some places in the uk have 130ppm of nitrates in their tap water

The UK limit is 50ppm!

I smell a law suit lol jk

 

[doresy]

Down here the water contains 40ppm nitrate on draught.

Good for the garden.....free fertilizers!