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#Post#: 566--------------------------------------------------
Nitrates
By: Mazken Date: September 25, 2014, 1:17 pm
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so my tank has been up and running for about 6 months now got
about 15 african cichlids a mixture in a 55 gallon tank. ph is
good amonia is at 0 nitrites at 0 but my are around 40ppm. the
test kit states(What The Test Results Mean
In new aquariums the nitrate level will gradually climb
as the biological filter becomes established. A nitrate
level of 40 ppm (mg/L) or less is recommended for
freshwater aquarium)
is this correct or should i be doing more water changes. thanks
for any input.
#Post#: 576--------------------------------------------------
Re: Nitrates
By: PaulMartin61 Date: September 25, 2014, 5:58 pm
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If I may, what brand of test kit are you using?
Any time my Nitrates rise above 5ppm, I'm doing a water change.
I have no doubt your cichlids are a bit stressed out with such a
high content of nitrates.
My guess, with your fish load, you should be doing at least a
30% water change weekly to be safe.
Paul
#Post#: 583--------------------------------------------------
Re: Nitrates
By: Mazken Date: September 25, 2014, 7:34 pm
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Api and I try to do at least 50% a week but thanks I'll do
another one this weekend also how long after I do a water change
do I need to wait before I test
#Post#: 638--------------------------------------------------
Re: Nitrates
By: Jennifer Date: September 26, 2014, 11:44 am
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I always test my water before a water change and then right
after. That gives me a good idea of how much of a water change
I need to do to remove a certain level of nitrates. All tanks
seem to have their own personality that way. With some, a 25%
change will seem to take care of any level of high nitrates.
With others, you can about replace all the water and still have
a lot. So, I test to make sure I know what each tank is doing.
I find most fish act better, spawn better, look happier and eat
better in tanks where the nitrates are below 10 ppm. So I try
to never let mine get over that. That usually means two smaller
water changes a week (25% or so) and maybe one larger one every
couple of weeks (50% or so). But I have no standard recipe for
water changes that's based on time frame or %. I test my water
a couple times a week and change water out based on those
results .. and when the decision is borderline, I default to the
conservative side and do a small water change.
#Post#: 704--------------------------------------------------
Re: Nitrates
By: mrk13p Date: September 27, 2014, 12:29 am
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just watch cyberaquarists 4 part youtube piece on nitrates. very
very informative
#Post#: 791--------------------------------------------------
Re: Nitrates
By: Mazken Date: September 28, 2014, 2:52 pm
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So I did a little over 50% water change and I'm still sitting at
about 10 ppm on nitrates all my other levels are good I gave 2
fish any yesterday so now sitting at 12 african cichlids in my
55 gallon biggest one about 3 in. Do I need to do another water
change today to try and bring it down some more. The fish look
perfectly fine good color. Good moment not gasping.
#Post#: 793--------------------------------------------------
Re: Nitrates
By: GaryJewett Date: September 28, 2014, 3:35 pm
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Have you tested your tap water for nitrates?
#Post#: 800--------------------------------------------------
Re: Nitrates
By: Mazken Date: September 28, 2014, 5:48 pm
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Yea tested today water is good
#Post#: 814--------------------------------------------------
Re: Nitrates
By: mrk13p Date: September 29, 2014, 1:49 am
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you really need to get a baseline. test your water then wait 7
days and test water again. the amount the nitrates rise should
be your baseline. If it went from 10ppm to 20ppm with no water
change, we can assume your baseline can be 10ppm a week. This
is if you dont add any more fish or make any other changes in
media. If this is the case, anything less than a 50% change
weekly will slowly bring up your nitrates. the 50% should keep
it stable at 10ppm if done once a week.
#Post#: 822--------------------------------------------------
Re: Nitrates
By: Stu4648 Date: September 29, 2014, 2:32 am
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40ppm is fish shop nitrate levels. As most of the posts here
have said you want to be aiming for 10ppm or less if you can. I
usually do one big water change where I will vac the gravel /
sand and a smaller midweek one where I just change some of the
water without using the vac. Seems to do the trick, the mid week
one just helps keep the nitrates in check.
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