Pretty High Nitrates In Tap-water?

[RossC]

Hey everyone, so pretty much ever since I've owned my aquariums I've had what I though was a nitrate problem even with 50%+ weekly water changes. And it was only today I decided to test my tap-water and it read between 40-80ppm

I assumed maybe my test kit was out of date or something so I logged onto the net and found the tap-water quality report for my area and I'm quite surprised how bad it is. Is this quite normal?

http/www.south-staffs-water.co.uk/downloads/BarrBeacon1_BB1.pdf

 

[Yanks15]

I can only assume it is normal for your area. I'm sure water quality can be quite different from area to area and without a doubt from the US to the UK. Do your fish do well in it? Or do you use RO? What is the level just before a WC?


Thanks,
Steve

 

[RossC]

I can only assume it is normal for your area. I'm sure water quality can be quite different from area to area and without a doubt from the US to the UK. Do your fish do well in it? Or do you use RO? What is the level just before a WC?


Thanks,
Steve

They seem to be ok yeah it just always bugged me. I just used tapwater, dechlorinated. My water params before water change are 40-80ppm nitrate, ammonia and nitrites are always 0

 

[Yanks15]

That doesn't sound much different than my stats before a WC. I haven't checked my tap in quite a while but when I did, the NO3 was zero. I should check again because I know they treat the water differently season to season. Still yours aren't too high for your fish, especially seeing as how you do weekly changes. Not too sure if there is any effect to humans though

haha. I'm sure it's OK!


Thanks,
Steve

 

[DrRob]

Your stats are better than mine. Not sure where I put the paperwork for it, it was a while ago, but my ammonia and nitrate were both higher than yours.

 

[maurizio]

Denmark here, same stuff, I start at 36-39 mg/l from tap. Law limit is 50, pretty much all over Europe.
Now that my tank is fully stocked, though, I'm having problems, I'm constantly over 75 mg/l in the tank, in spite of water changes. Two nerites dead, the others unseen since a month or so. Result, the diatoms are back at full speed.

Seriously considering RO now. Pity, 'cause I have arranged the entire tank by seconding the water type here (hard)....

 

[RossC]

I'm thinking of trying Tetra Easy Balance, I've read very mixed reviews but I think the criticisms come form the "6 months of no water change" claim. But anyone in the right mind wouldn't try that. I'd stick to my weekly changes and give it a go for a month.

 

[maurizio]

Easy balance doesn't seem to act on NO3. In my potential wish list I have JBL BioNitrateEx and Tetra Nitrate Minus pearls. I don't know how really efficient they are, again, I read conflicting reviews. I also got some EasyLife Symbiont, which will go into my filter as soon as I clean it next time.

 

[coolie]

I'm adding Nitrates for plants, so I'm not sure what all the worry is about unless you are un-planted.

 

[maurizio]

Ten desperate Vallis, and 1 mangrove propagula. Say, unplanted.
Also, from what I read, only massive plantation would really work on NO3.

 

[RossC]

I'm pretty heavily planted in my main tank, less in my others but even with the plants eating up to NO3 its still at higher levels than I'd prefer. I think I meant Tetra Nitrate Minus not Easy Balance, thanks maurizio I know you can buy sponges that claim to reduce NO3 that you put in your filter but at £5 a piece I don't know how often you would replace them or if they even work.

 

[cms091]

Welcome to the wonderful world of south staffs water!

I'm in sutton coldfield and the max NO3 is 47! It always makes me laugh when people say 'my nitrate is 30. It's killing my fish!' True, there are som fish I can't seem to keep. Gourami is one type. And most tetra.

Plant heavily with fast growing plants is one answer. I haven't seen much difference with the nitrate reducers. But I haven't tested for nitrates for years. It always seemed pointless.
Cathy

 

[RossC]

Welcome to the wonderful world of south staffs water!

I'm in sutton coldfield and the max NO3 is 47! It always makes me laugh when people say 'my nitrate is 30. It's killing my fish!' True, there are som fish I can't seem to keep. Gourami is one type. And most tetra.

Plant heavily with fast growing plants is one answer. I haven't seen much difference with the nitrate reducers. But I haven't tested for nitrates for years. It always seemed pointless.
Cathy

Yeah I have a gourami issue too I've had 3 all die after a couple of weeks, tetras seem to be ok, I've got about 12 all together and no deaths as of yet *fingers crossed*

 

[ColR1948]

Have you tried a water butt to catch the rainwater, that be a bit different plus it hasn't been treated with other chemicals?

Try a little test first put a bucket or something out when it rains and do a test.

 

[the_lock_man]

Your mean tested nitrate level at 21ppm is pretty reasonable for the UK - my local water company gives me 35-40ppm generally.

Nothing to worry about at all.