Nitrate Problems

[davieb]

Hi,

I changed 45% of my water last night as per my weekly water change schedule and as normal my nitrate had risen to 40/50 (hard to tell with tetratest 5in1 strips) However i tested today expecting a much lower level but its the same, nothings been added (in fact my stocking level went down 6 weeks ago when I lost a couple of clown loaches to whitespot, tank treated with protozin) any ideas on what could be the problem or to try?

ammonia 0 (tetra test nh3 kit)
nitrite 0
nitrate 50
ph 8

oh my tap water is (tested as posted)

nitrite 0
nitrate 10
ph 7.6
GH 6d
KH3

Thanks in advance,

D

 

[WILDER]

Just do another water change tomorrow nothing to worry about, maybe slightly rinse one of the sponges in old tank water.

 

[davieb]

Thanks for that quick reply

D

 

[@ombomb]

I changed 45% of my water last night as per my weekly water change schedule and as normal my nitrate had risen to 40/50 (hard to tell with tetratest 5in1 strips)

It's definitely worth buying a liquid test kit. I've used the strips in the past and I was never convinced by any of the readings... 40/50 while high is not really at danger levels, what do you have in the tank?