Nitrate

[markandjanice]

hi guys,

as most of you probably know i recently cycled a tropical aquarium by a fishless method.

for the past two weeks or so i have had malawi cichlids living very happily in their, my readings daily have been nitrite and ammonia at both ZERO, however nitrate has been showing anywhere between 20-40ppm.

i have spoken to a number of people who keep cichlids and theyve told me not to worry as they are very hardy fish and adapt.

i have been performing water changes daily and every other day and when i do this is reduces down to about 20, then it goes back to 40ppm.

is there anything i can do to lower this or is it just a time thing?

i have had no ammonia spike which is good and as i say daily nitrite and ammonia are zero.

i was told if i can get the nitrate down lower and keep it that way there is a good chance of breeding, a few are already performing this ritual.

any advice welcomed, as i say i'm not worried but would like to shift it, is it just the filter media isn't fully matured?

 

[DrRob]

Filters make nitrate, so it's doing it's job well. It's made from the ammonia from breaking down excess food and fish waste. There are ways of removing it, but in a traditional overstocked malawi tank you're looking at water changes as the primary method. 40ppm is perfectly acceptable in this situation, although I applaud your efforts.

 

[markandjanice]

yeh thanks DrRob appreciated and i've been told by my newly found malawi friends this is as you say, am just being finiky!

Thanks again mate

 

[cms091]

My water has nitrates of 40ppm straight out of the tap, so even 100% water change doesn't get it any lower. My tanks have plants, which lower nitrates, so water changes probably raise the value. Don't worry!

Cathy