nitrate

[-cAtFiSh-]

my nitrate is only 5ppm. is that a problem? it doesnt seem like very much.

 

[CFC]

The ideal nitrate level is 0 so why would you want more?

 

[Tropjunky]

nitrate is toxic in large ammounts and 5ppm will be a problem u might wanna ger some algae pads cos ur gonna get loads of algae.

Live plants help and so do water changes.

 

[rvm]

5ppm is not a large amount of nitrate. that is very low and not gonna cause any kind of algae or fish problems!!!!

 

[CFC]

nitrate is toxic in large ammounts and 5ppm will be a problem u might wanna ger some algae pads cos ur gonna get loads of algae.

Live plants help and so do water changes.

Tropjunky, will you please think before you type! 5ppm of nitrate is a perfectly acceptable level of nitrate in a freshwater tank, it is generally considered that levels of 50ppm or below are safe for freshwater fish, even nitrate sensative fish like discus and rays can be kept with nitrate levels of 20 to 30ppm without problems. Most tapwater supplies have a nitrate level of at least 40ppm so any level below this is a achievment in itself.

 

[clutterydrawer]

5ppm is fine. -catfish- I notice your tank is planted and a lot of your fish don't produce much waste, which is probably why the nitrates are so low. congrats, tehre are lots of people who would like to be in the same position

 

[Tropjunky]

i know it's now too much but u gota remember that it will build up and algae will start to take-over the tank.

 

[clutterydrawer]

it will not build up unless he never does water changes. even a nitrate reading of 20ppm doesn't cause algae to "take over the tank"

 

[rvm]

i know it's now too much but u gota remember that it will build up and algae will start to take-over the tank.

yeah, really! I never have reading less than about 40ppm in one of my tanks (high tapwater nitrate) and don't have algae taking over my tank, and there is only 1 bristlenose and no plants in there!!! Sorry tropjunky, but you are way out on this one!!

 

[gixer]

wow..lucky you... my tapwater reads 30ppm...so i would love to have your situation.

Nothing to worry about there..everything is hunk dory

 

[Cavafish]

My nitrate is always around 40 - 50ppm and I have started to get concerned due to algae turning plant leaves brown. Urgh. Just got a new batch of plants and bound to get sme snails in with it so hopefully algae will decrease soon. Water changes dont seem to help the nitrate too much. Must check tap water as I didn't write it down, doh!

Apart from the algae, all my fish are happy and even my fry dont mind these levels so at 5ppm really dont worry -cAtFiSh-

 

[-cAtFiSh-]

well thats good then! i am very happy now .

lol btw clutterydrawer im not a dude lol

 

[clutterydrawer]

you're not? oops ) sorry!