Water Problems

[2004rea]

Hi Eveyone,

New to the site but i have had my 4ft tank for a couple of years now.

I have always had water problems since i have had the tank.

Nitrates are high and the test kit instruction leaflet have recommened tetra nitrateminus and tetra bactozym.

I have also heard that adding Reverse osmosis water to the tank would help, is this true???

Apart from the water changes to get this down is there any thing else that would help?

Advise and tips greatfully received.

Rea.

 

[Squid]

If your ammonia and nitrites are at 0 and it's just the nitrates that are high, then water changes are the best thing to do. The addition of live plants can also help to keep nitrates down, as they use them as a form of nutrition.

If you are performing regular water changes and your nitrates are still high, this might indicate that you have overstocked the tank hence a heavier load on the nitrogen cycle and increasing the end result - nitrate.


How often do you perform water changes, and how much do you change?

What is the level of nitrates in the tank?

What size is the tank, and what is the current stocking?

EDIT: RO seems a little over the top at this stage.. although have you tested your tap water to see what level of nitrates you have before it goes into the tank. Some areas have higher nitrates to start off with, which can make life more difficult.

Squid

 

[2004rea]

I do a water change once a week,

I have only 5 fish in there now 2 big catfish, 2 small catfish and a red tailed shark.

the only thing i dont have in the tank are plants has they where growing hair and making the tank green.

NO3 was 100mg

NO2 stayed white

(using Tetra test 5 in 1 test kit)

 

[Squid]

I would be tempted to take a couple of samples down to your LFS or get an API master test kit. I have heard that the tetra 5 in 1 kits are not amazingly accurate, and so you might have less of a problem than you think!

Worth a try..

Squid

 

[2004rea]

I would be tempted to take a couple of samples down to your LFS or get an API master test kit. I have heard that the tetra 5 in 1 kits are not amazingly accurate, and so you might have less of a problem than you think!

Worth a try..

Squid

cool i'll get a new kit tomorrow when i go and put my deposit down on a mbu puffer that i have had my eye on since wednesday hope he is still there

by adding live plants that would help too?

Would it help to change the stuff in the fillter. i.e carbon etc?

 

[Squid]

Live plants help.. Don't know much about mbu though myself, and if plants can be kept with them.

I would get the LFS to test the water before investing in a new kit, but many people on here would say go ahead and get a good liquid test kit anyway.

How long has the carbon been in there. Do you have a nitrate sponge too.? I wonder if perhaps the sponges need washing (must be tank water) to get rid of any excess. Carbon sponges only last a month or so anyway... (BTW.. never wash in tap water, and never wash all of the sponges in one go, or replace them in one go or the bacteria will die down a bit and you will have a mini-cycle on your hands).

Squid

 

[2004rea]

Live plants help.. Don't know much about mbu though myself, and if plants can be kept with them.

I would get the LFS to test the water before investing in a new kit, but many people on here would say go ahead and get a good liquid test kit anyway.

How long has the carbon been in there. Do you have a nitrate sponge too.? I wonder if perhaps the sponges need washing (must be tank water) to get rid of any excess. Carbon sponges only last a month or so anyway... (BTW.. never wash in tap water, and never wash all of the sponges in one go, or replace them in one go or the bacteria will die down a bit and you will have a mini-cycle on your hands).

Squid

over a year ago i think.... i have a fluval 204 got with the tank so i dont know how old it is was thinking about buying a bigger one has i had problems last weekend that left the fish in a couple of inchs of water and that the out pipe was on the floor

how often should it be changed?