Nitrate won’t go.

[tylapollyanna]

Hi guys I have a 56 L tank and the matter what I do the nitrate won’t go. Nitrites are a zero i’ve done so many water changes and the nitrate levels just won’t go down. What should I do?

 

[Lajos_Detari]

Does your tap water has high nitrate?
Test your tap water for nitrate.

https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmenvaud/656/656.pdf

If your tap water has high nitrate, you can reduce it with reverse osmosis filtrations or other types of filtrations.

Also, how much water did you change each time?
If you change less than 50% of water, it won't affect much.
Usually I change at least 60-70% of water each week.

 

[CaptainBarnicles]

Nitrate will mostly always be present in your tank, that's why we do water changes to keep it diluted as much as possible ? as long as you keep it below 20 your fish will be happy, I recommend a 50% water change and gravel vacuum once a week

 

[Essjay]

Test your tap water for nitrate.

I agree, the lowest your nitrate can be by doing water changes is the same as your tap water.

As you posted this in the cycling section, I assume you are cycling the tank? Fishless or fish-in?

 

[Avel1896]

Hello
What's the way you check your nitrates ?

 

[Skytsengel]

The API Freshwater Master Test Kit is a great kit to have and is about $25 on Amazon (usually about the same price from your LFS as well). Test strips can work but aren't as accurate.

 

[Colin_T]

Make sure you don't have nitrites in the water because nitrate test kits read nitrite as nitrate and give you a false reading.

If you are cycling an aquarium, do not test for nitrates until the ammonia and nitrite have both gone up and come back down to 0ppm.

 

[Avel1896]

Api tests aren't accurate enough. You'll get more precise results with strips used the right way.

 

[Slaphppy7]

Api tests aren't accurate enough. You'll get more precise results with strips used the right way.

Nope....liquid test kits > paper strips, every time

 

[Avel1896]

Nope....liquid test kits > paper strips, every time

You really should check the way I advice to use strips....