Tap Water...

[AncientMariner]

What is the legal limit in the uk for Nitrate levels from the tap?

My tank readings are Ammonia 0mg/l, Nitrite 0mg/l, Nitrate 75mg/l to 100mg/l (Difficult to tell on the colour chart on my Interpet box)

I have been wondering for a while why my tank has high Nitrate levels when I have an understocked tank, run a huge Eheim 2128 (Good upto 130gal) & gravel vac & water change using a 'Syphon Python'

It turns out my tap water is exactly the same as my tank water.

How serious could this be? What should I do?

 

[WILDER]

I don't no the legal limit, but you do have a high nitrate tap reading, you could try the nitrate sponges, though i don't no if they work, my nitrate tap reading is 12.5.

 

[Bloo]

Nitrates are notoriously difficult to read best would be to contact your local water supplier and ask for a a report. That will give you min, max and average readings over the past year.
Mine here in London is around 35ppm I think (average). Rather high !

 

[simonbrown403]

Over 50ppm is to high for fish, the affects are similar to ammonia poisoning.
Symptoms of ammonia poisoning include sluggish behavior, panting, and gill discoloration (gill burn). Fish may hang just below the water surface.

Have you thought about mixing with your tap water with r/o or distilled to dilute it water.

 

[AncientMariner]

Over 50ppm is to high for fish, the affects are similar to ammonia poisoning.
Symptoms of ammonia poisoning include sluggish behavior, panting, and gill discoloration (gill burn). Fish may hang just below the water surface.

Have you thought about mixing with your tap water with r/o or distilled to dilute it water.

Ok thank you for your advice. I am beginning to wonder if my Interpet tablets are acurate, as I have been running my tank for 6 or 7 months now & haven't had too many problems as in fish loss (Or is high Nitrate a silent killer & takes longer for the problems to happen?)

I still may have to consider an r/o unit. Didn't really want to go down this route as I enjoy just using my 'Syphon Pyhon' once every 3 weeks to do a gravel clean & 25% water change all in one hit.

 

[Bloo]

I enjoy just using my 'Syphon Pyhon' once every 3 weeks to do a gravel clean & 25% water change all in one hit.

Water changes should ideally be done around once a week. I do anything between 30-50% a week. Once every 3 weeks (unless severely understocked) is just not good

 

[a.d.wood]

Hi there,

Back to the original question on the legal limit:

Severn Trent quotes the UK/European limit at 50 mg NO3/l.

Before you go running off to your water company though, please bear in mind the comments about the accuracy of the test kits commonly available to the hobbiest, I have seen error values of +/-30% quoted in the past.

Andrew

 

[AncientMariner]

I enjoy just using my 'Syphon Pyhon' once every 3 weeks to do a gravel clean & 25% water change all in one hit.

Water changes should ideally be done around once a week. I do anything between 30-50% a week. Once every 3 weeks (unless severely understocked) is just not good

Ok - I am fairly new to fish keeping, but for the size of my tank & double the stated filteration required (Big Eheim external 2128 good to about 130 uk gallons) I thought I would be fine with once every 3 weeks. I do a proper gravel vac too each time I change the water.

I know the inch per gallon rule is only rough guide but I currently have approximately 40 inches of fish in my tank.

Also my water is crystal clear too if this counts for anything.

Ps - All advice appreciated, because like I say, I am only about 8 months into this hobby.

 

[yvez9]

nitrates have nothing to do with the quality of your filter.

nitrates are produced from nitrites, which asre produced from ammonia

if you have a bigger filter, the nitrates will still be there as the ammoni source is the same. the bigger filter will permit to transform more ammonia in nitrates, so basically it can handle more fish!

if your nitrates readings are the same in your tank and in from your tap water, you should get your water tested at the store and see what they come up with, maybe your test is just wrong...

 

[AncientMariner]

nitrates have nothing to do with the quality of your filter.

nitrates are produced from nitrites, which asre produced from ammonia

if you have a bigger filter, the nitrates will still be there as the ammoni source is the same. the bigger filter will permit to transform more ammonia in nitrates, so basically it can handle more fish!

if your nitrates readings are the same in your tank and in from your tap water, you should get your water tested at the store and see what they come up with, maybe your test is just wrong...

Cheers - Yes I think you are right, will get my lfs to check the tap water out.