Nitrates Still High After 80% Water Change, Do I Clean My New Filter?

[TimFok]

I've had my tank up and running for around 2 months.

9 days ago it reached full cycle of processing Ammonia and Nitrite inside 12 hours.

Ever since i've been giving it Ammonia on a daily basis, and processed both without fail inside 12 hours ever since.

My Nitrate was naturally off the chart 9 days ago.

4 days after it had started processing Nitrite (gave it a few days buffer to check it wasn't a false reading), I did an 80% water change to bring the Nitrate down. After the change I checked the Nitrate levels and they were still high (almost off the chart), and within a couple of days of going back to adding ammonia the levels have gone back off the chart.

So I'm gearing up for another water change. But this time I want to ensure I get rid of this Nitrate, and keep on top of the levels before my stock of plants and fish come in.

I'm assuming another large water change will give me the same results (high Nitrate), so should I look at cleaning out my filter now? Or is it too soon?

What else can I do to bring Nitrates down? Substrate clean?

My method for my HOB filter clean, would be to turn it off, remove the contents (purigen, sponge and biomass) and rinse in aquarium water. And scrub the sides with a tooth brush whilst it's still full of the aquarium water. Does that sound about right? Or should I be removing the HOB filter, pouring out the water, and scrubbing the sides? Or not scrubbing it at all?

If I do clean the filter, and change the water, and my Nitrate levels go down. Shall I continue to add Ammonia on a daily basis? Or shall I cut back? I'm adding around 4PPM a day.

I'm still waiting for my new heater to arrive (could take another two weeks), so until then I can't stock my tank, so I'll have to continue this process for a little while longer.

My tank is a 5G/23L fluval edge with HOB filter.

 

[Ps3Steveo]

Out of curiosity what's the nitrate ppm in tank and what's the ppm in the tap water before it goes in tank?

 

[TimFok]

Nitrate pre first water change was over 160PPM.

Nitrate after first water change was around 80PPM

Nitrate in tank now (5 days after water change) it's around 100PM

Nitrate in tap water after de-chlorination is around 7PPM - This was measured on a different day to the water change, as I didn't twig to check this right away.

What's a safe level of Nitrate?

 

[Livewire88]

With the levels of Nitrate you are quoting I would not worry.

As long as you stick to a good maintenence routine (ie; regular water changes/filter cleaning) you can forget about your Nitrate level.

 

[TimFok]

Ok cool thanks for that.

I was aiming for weekly 30% water changes once I get everything going

How often should I clean my filter? And did the above method sound right?

Also, should I offset it with my water change? Or ok to do both at same time.

Thanks

 

[Livewire88]

It depends on what you are going to have in your tank, my mum has a Fluval Edge with 1 Betta, a few shrimp and plants and I only clean the HOB filter once every 2-3 months, in that time it does get quite dirty even with just the Betta and shrimp.

I dont bother cleaning the sides of the filter, just give the sponges and media a swill in used tank water, also give the purigen bag a swill or recharge.

What are you planing on stocking wise for your tank?

 

[TimFok]

Same, a betta and a few shrimp!

Ill just do another large water change then, and give the filter another couple of months.

Thanks guys!

 

[eaglesaquarium]

I suggest when doing a water change after a fishless cycle that you change as much of the water as possible to "zero" the tank and have the water in the tank as close to the tap water as possible. After all, the tap water is your source for EMERGENCY situations and the closer the tank is to the tap, the better for large water changes in case of emergency.

Taking the water all the way down to the substrate and refilling will bring your nitrates down as low as possible. Cleaning the filter will do nothing about your nitrates. The nitrates are free in the water, and not stored in the filter or anything like that. They just come because the bacteria you are trying to cultivate are primarily housed in the filter.

 

[Livewire88]

I suggest when doing a water change after a fishless cycle that you change as much of the water as possible to "zero" the tank and have the water in the tank as close to the tap water as possible. After all, the tap water is your source for EMERGENCY situations and the closer the tank is to the tap, the better for large water changes in case of emergency.

Taking the water all the way down to the substrate and refilling will bring your nitrates down as low as possible. Cleaning the filter will do nothing about your nitrates. The nitrates are free in the water, and not stored in the filter or anything like that. They just come because the bacteria you are trying to cultivate are primarily housed in the filter.

It will when the filter is running on a stocked tank, cleaning the filter will remove any trapped waste (ie poo, plant debris ect) all of this will break down over time causing Nitrate to be pumped into the water.

During a fishless cycle its not going to make much or any difference because the ammonia that is being dosed should pass through the filter media without getting trapped.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

That's what I meant, as this is a fishless cycle. There is nothing present in the filter which would be causing a rise in nitrate. The nitrates show up as a result of the bacteria completing the nitrogen cycle, but its not like there is some source of nitrates in the filter. I would also never suggest removing the water all the way down to the substrate with fish present in the tank either. ;-)


Of course, when one has a fully stocked tank, rinsing (rather than "cleaning") the filter needs to be a standard routine as not only can trapped detritus continue to put nitrates into the water, but it also can clog the filter, which causes the filter to run inefficiently and can actually cause ammonia spikes as the decreased flow can actually mean that some of the bacteria no longer have access to the tank water (and by extension - the ammonia).

 

[Livewire88]

lol

That's what I meant, as this is a fishless cycle. There is nothing present in the filter which would be causing a rise in nitrate. The nitrates show up as a result of the bacteria completing the nitrogen cycle, but its not like there is some source of nitrates in the filter. I would also never suggest removing the water all the way down to the substrate with fish present in the tank either. ;-)


Of course, when one has a fully stocked tank, rinsing (rather than "cleaning") the filter needs to be a standard routine as not only can trapped detritus continue to put nitrates into the water, but it also can clog the filter, which causes the filter to run inefficiently and can actually cause ammonia spikes as the decreased flow can actually mean that some of the bacteria no longer have access to the tank water (and by extension - the ammonia).

Cool,