timandson
Tropheus
If it's not fish, who cares ?
Posts: 283
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Post by timandson on Dec 16, 2012 16:34:54 GMT 11
Hello everyone!
I have recently tested the nitrate levels in one of my 6ft tanks and it is suprisingly high. It is stocked with 19 juvenile mbuna and filtered with a fluval 205 as well as a fluval 203 (canister filters). I do 20% waterchanges weekly as well. Fish are not overfed and eat most ofthe food before it reaches the bottom. Ammonia is 0ppm-0.25ppm, nitrite 0ppm and pH 8.2.
Do you guys have any tips/methods for lowering nitrates???
Much apprieciated,
Tim
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dazzman
xenotilapia
Mbuna Boy
Posts: 675
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Post by dazzman on Dec 16, 2012 17:43:59 GMT 11
water change is the answer mate, nitrate is the end point of the nitrogen cycle (ammonia - nitrite - nitrate). what are the nitrate levels? change some water when the nitrates get over 40ppm (parts per million). go for 30% min weekly water change if you can. then monitor the results.
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timandson
Tropheus
If it's not fish, who cares ?
Posts: 283
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Post by timandson on Dec 16, 2012 19:43:32 GMT 11
The reading was around 100ppm. Yes i will increase the volume of my water changes
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superman
Tropheus
Why because I can!
Posts: 445
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Post by superman on Dec 17, 2012 6:50:44 GMT 11
agree with Dazzman
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Post by joller on Dec 17, 2012 8:47:11 GMT 11
also i'd do 50% daily until its down to about 20ppm
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Post by firthy13 on Dec 17, 2012 18:04:22 GMT 11
100ppm is very close to being lethal. i would definitely keep an eye on it.
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Post by pathos on Dec 25, 2012 3:30:12 GMT 11
When you clean your cannister's, do you occasionally wash your bio media for a quick swirl in some clean tank water? The gunk that acculiminates on the noodles over time will lower the of bacteria available for filtering the tank water. Also that state can cause a dump of nitrates due to vegetation rot, or something like that.
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timandson
Tropheus
If it's not fish, who cares ?
Posts: 283
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Post by timandson on Dec 26, 2012 9:08:06 GMT 11
Hi, Thanks for the advice . We will increase the volume of weekly water changes and see how we go. Re cannister filter cleaning we are cleaning them on average every 4 weeks and all media is flushed in tank water to remove sludge.
Tim
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