Nitrate Woes

[WendyinWichita]

This topic could very well go in several places, but I was studying the pinned subject on nutrients etc and found that my nitrates are at 100+ppm, so I thought I would put it here. I thought I could explain this away since 2 nights ago I tore down my tank, vacuumed the gravel really well, added Laterite, then replanted. I did not fiddle with the filters, since I also did a big water change at the same time. I like to do those things on separate days.

All other specs are nil. (ph is around 8.0) I tested my tap and nitrates were 20ppm. I then tested my son's tank, and my daughters, both over 100ppm.

My usual routine is a 20-30% water change once a week in the kids tanks, twice a week in the planted tank. What to do? Not much from what I read. I did put Nitrate sponge material into all of the HOB filters (I know it isn't proven to do much of anything) I changed all of the filter media and did 50% water changes in all of the tanks.

Nitrates in the planted tank came down to 80, but the rest are still high. Tomorrow I will go buy some bottled water, and begin water changes again, but it will take a lot! I live out in the country, surrounded by crop land. Wheat is in the process of being planted right now and I suspect that is the culprit. My house is on well water.

So far, the only sick fish is a female Blue Ram. The male looks good, for now. Once poisoned with nitrates, can a fish be saved?

Anybody else have any tips to get the Nitrates down? And if I manage to get it down, how fast would be dangerous to the fish? I read that if there is a deficiency, to raise N03 slowly, does the rule apply in reverse also?

 

[pseud]

I wish I could confidently offer some advice, but I'm far from an expert when it comes to the chemical side of things. But rather than keep quiet I can tell you what I'd personally do:

a BIG water change. Maybe do at least a 50% water change now and then another 50% water change in several hours. I don't think that reducing the nitrates rapidly will do any harm, but changing the temperature, the pH too much and too suddenly wont be that healthy. I guess it's a toss up between the lesser of the two evils.

Rams are particularly sensitive to water quality and stress. They die very quickly, I haven't had much luck with them myself unfortunately. I would quarantine the rams ASAP in distilled water in a 10 gallon tank on their own if possible. If not, do the best you can.

Wish I could help more. Good luck.

 

[George Farmer]

I surprised you are getting such high NO3 with weekly water changes at 30%, even with 20ppm NO3 tap water.

Have you tested your tap water recently?

How old is your kit?

 

[WendyinWichita]

I surprised you are getting such high NO3 with weekly water changes at 30%, even with 20ppm NO3 tap water.

Have you tested your tap water recently?

How old is your kit?

I bought the kit in May of this year. The 20PPM was from testing yesterday, my only explanation is that my 21 acres is surrounded by farmground, and my home is on well. I have been lax in testing the tap, especially this time of year (beginning in August really) as spraying and fertilizing is done pretty steady. I can only assume that the NO3 levels are not stable.

I see a RO unit in my future, for now, Walmart's RO is my only option. I have also been lacadaisical in the filter media in the tanks, rinsing rather than replacing. That may also have contributed to the increase. I just need to be more diligent in the testing....

 

[pseud]

+1 for usage of 'lackadaisical'

 

[WendyinWichita]

Phew, what a day. I have replaced 35 gals of H20 in my planted tank, NO3 down to between 10-20ppm. My 10GAl fry tank, replaced 8 gal, my sons 20 tall replaced 12 gal. Still have my daughters 29 gal, and two other 55's to work on. The Walmart RO had 10ppm NO3.

I will have to do the other tanks tomorrow, I am pooped. Got the ones done with the fish I would least like to lose. I will have to make another trip to WM and load up again on H20 in any case. You should have seen the looks I got! I do have 3 5 cal H20 containers, but the rest is in 1 gal jugs. Lucky thing I save those jugs. I don't let my cats drink the well water, just distilled. Guess my fish will have to have that rule to until I get a RO system under the sink!

Now, I will have to sweet talk the BF....

Pseud, the Riccia arrived yesterday and it is floating in the planted tank now. The stuff is kinda tricky to work with, LOL. Hope my gouramis leave it alone and not get to thinking they can do a bubble nest in it.

I did lose the female ram, a pearl gourami and one molly fry. (got lots more of the fry though)

 

[pseud]

Sorry for your losses.

hehe, my Pearl Gourami collects the stray riccia pieces and deposits them behind the filter.