Nitrate

[nay27uk]

how do i lower it

 

[Squid]

Weekly water changes.. i do 20-25%..

Squid

 

[Piltdownpaul]

Quickest way is daily water changes-you can add some helpful bacteria to help-but you need to be sure your ammonia is on its way down or your nitrate wont lower until this does. It should go down naturally with your cycle in five weeks but you need to get it low quickly as you probably have fish in your tank so do a partial water change.

 

[Callum]

Water changes or you can get some nitrate lowering chemicals but waterchanges are much better. Also having live plants will help to lower nitrate.

 

[nay27uk]

thanks all tank is mature over 10 months just had a peek in nitrates, will have to alter the changes to 25% weekly insted of 50% fortnightly

 

[mark.w.jones]

thanks all tank is mature over 10 months just had a peek in nitrates, will have to alter the changes to 25% weekly insted of 50% fortnightly

Check your nitrate levels of you tap water also. Let it stand over night then test carefully as it is the most difficult level to get accurately.

 

[zoekin8yg]

Quickest way is daily water changes-you can add some helpful bacteria to help-but you need to be sure your ammonia is on its way down or your nitrate wont lower until this does. It should go down naturally with your cycle in five weeks but you need to get it low quickly as you probably have fish in your tank so do a partial water change.

nitrate IS NOT lowered by bacteria! Nitrite and ammonia are!

Do you mean NitrIte or NitrAte? Water changes will lower nitrAte, my tap water has 25ppm nitrAte, any level lower than 40ppm is fine, some articles say fish are ok up to 100ppm, some say less, some fish are more sensitive than others.

 

[Piltdownpaul]

I took it that nay meant nitrite- i never bother checking my nitrate level-it only ever becomes a problem if you have a high value for a long period- if you keep changing the water regularly your nitrate shouldnt reach a dangerous level- Yes and thats true that bacteria wont get your nitrate down but i meant it for nitrite/ammonia

 

[George Farmer]

nitrate IS NOT lowered by bacteria!

It can be actually. NO3 is coverted into nitrogen gas by de-nitrifying bacteria in certain low oxygen conditions.

nay27uk - Test your tap for nitrate (NO3).

Hopefully it will be much lower than your aquarium water.

If it is not you are obviously fighting a loosing battle and nitrate removal media (or rapid plant growth) will be required.

The difference in lowering NO3 between a 14 day 50% water change and a 7 day 25% water change will be small. Change more water i.e. 25% twice per week or 50% once per week.

Look into the cause of your high nitrate - possible overstocking, overfeeding, stale substrate etc. High nitrate is a common symptom in well-established aquariums, a low pH is also a common attribute so testing this is a good idea and compare it to your tap.

 

[Piltdownpaul]

Agree with you george-i just didnt want nay to think adding bacteria would solve the problem!