Tap Water High Nitrate

[mbsqw1d]

I have just now tested my tap water for nitrates and it seems to be quite high

 

[arobinson1984]

What level do you mean by high?

High nitrates wouldnt normally cause your fish to hang out around top, that could be a sign of ammonia, have you checked for ammonia recently?

Also, what filter you using nd is it position to create surface agitation?

Live plants would help lower nitrates but I dont think thats the problem to be honest, most fish can live happily in nitrates well over 100ppm and some have been proven to be fine in levels as high as 1000ppm!!!


Andy

 

[mbsqw1d]

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[Mikaila31]

have you tested the tap for nitrate? 80ppm should not be causing problems, however you should not see levels like that in a properly cared for tank. Nitrate is not something to concern yourself about too much. Ammonia and nitrite are the most important tests.

 

[mbsqw1d]

have you tested the tap for nitrate? 80ppm should not be causing problems, however you should not see levels like that in a properly cared for tank. Nitrate is not something to concern yourself about too much. Ammonia and nitrite are the most important tests.

Yeh I tested the tap water. I thought the tap water was high for nitrate, turning the test a pale red, around 80ppm (API Liquid Nitrate test).

 

[arobinson1984]

I think the first port of call would be to get a liquid ammonia test to rule out the chane of high ammonia as fish hanging around the surface is normally a sign of ammonia present. The filter seems fine if creating surface movement.

Let us know your ammonia results when you manage to get them, also in the mean time, I'd recommend a large water change (somewhere between 75-90%) to be on the safe side and see if your fish behave any better after that.


Andy

 

[Mikaila31]

have you tested the tap for nitrate? 80ppm should not be causing problems, however you should not see levels like that in a properly cared for tank. Nitrate is not something to concern yourself about too much. Ammonia and nitrite are the most important tests.

Yeh I tested the tap water. I thought the tap water was high for nitrate, turning the test a pale red, around 80ppm (API Liquid Nitrate test).

Looks as though I'll need to get myself the ammonia and nitrite test

I (stupidly) presumed if there was trace of nitrate then the filter/bacteria was doing its job at converting the ammonia and nitrite. Hope I'm not too late to get the test kits and solve this! I hardly ever test the water only when something goes bad (like now! )

I would check it with a different nitrate test kit. Tap should not have that high of nitrates. I know here in the US drinking water can only have 44ppm of nitrates max.