Nitrate

[Transporter]

Hi members,

For last two weeks since I have been doing tests i have high Nitrate levels. I have done water change on Friday & again today.

What can I do apart from water changes & feeding a little less to reduce the nitrate levels.

I am starting to worry now cause I found my venustus deceased in a beach shell, he wedged his way through, I dont know if he got stuck in there or wanted to commit suicide.

Regards

Transporter

[saudukar]

Nitrate will eventually go away with time.

Just keep doing normal feeding and cleaning.

If you a REALLY scared buy a bacterial booster culture from your LFS or a pond store near you. This will decrease the overall time taken to break down the nitrates.

[Ducksta]

breaking down nitrates? nitrates are the end product of the bacterial cycle and will only dissipate if "used" by plants/algae or in a suitably setup "denitrator" in the tank (ie. plenum's)

If your nitrate is uncontrollable high - even with water changes, I suggest you check your change water for high levels prior to being added to the tank. If there is no noticeable reading, then I think you may have to look into setting up a plenum, else risk losing alot of fish to prolonged nitrate exposure (which is especially dangerous to young fish)

[mianos]

I agree, water changes and plants. How big is the tank?

I'd pile a bunch of a fast growing surface plant like elodia under the light. If the nitrates are high and there is heaps of light that stuff grows so fast you can almost see it growing. Once the tank settles down just gank it out and throw it/ give it away. If you want a metre of it PM me and you can pick it up as I'm just near you in East Redfern.