Nitrate Question.

[Bronson]

I have been doing my fishless cycle for 42 days now. My ammonia and nitrite are going from 5ppm to 0 in 48 hrs. My question is this, my nitrate is at a constant 40ppm. I thought it should have been a lot higher than that at this point in the cycle. Is this right . Thanks for any help.

 

[kporteo]

The nitrate tests can be a tad inaccurate, as they rely on you shaking the bottles super well, if the suspension is not perfectly mixed, the readings are out.
To be honest though, the nitrate reading doesnt matter while your cycling, once your getting your readings down in 12hrs, and your cycled, you just need to do a massive 90% water change to get rid of your nitrate before adding your fish.

Good luck with the rest of your cycle!
K

 

[Bronson]

Thanks K. When i'm fully cycled, what is an acceptable nitrate level before i do a partial water change.

 

[BigbruiserAl]

Depends on your stocking, shrimp dont like more then 10ppm some fish are happy up to 80ppm, other reports claim fish can be fine at 200ppm +. On my fish tank 80ppm makes me do large water change but i have never seen it the high anyway with plants

 

[StandbySetting]

Up to 400PPM is safe for most fish, I have shrimp and my nitrate stays at around 40PPM after I dose KNO[sub]3[/sub] and I've had no issues thus far.

20PPM above your tap water reading is generally a good reference point for when to do water changes.