help with rainbow

[ryansmom]

I did a partial water change last night because my nitrates are at 60 so he was fine acts fine now, hes eating but he seems to have faded a bit in color since this morning is this normal. My ph is 7 my nitrites are 0 and ammonia is 0 ppm.

 

[An t-iasg]

Most people keep their nitrates between 20-40 ppm. From my reading, rainbows don't seem particularly sensitive to nitrates, so this range should be fine. You were right to do a water change when the nitrates reached 60 ppm, though.

The color fade may have been stress, due to the higher nitrates. Some fish also fade a bit at night as a defense mechanism - to hide from predators. He should be fine tomorrow.

What do you think is the cause of your higher nitrates? Some possible causes are overfeeding, or an overstocked tank, or skipping a water change.

 

[Apocalypse_Gold]

Rainbows are darkest in the morning. Probably nothing to worry about.

 

[Andos99]

I'm an avid rainbow keeper myself. Their colors fade in and out constantly so I wouldn't worry too much. I like to pin it on mood, but I'm not sure the exact reasons they do it.

 

[ryansmom]

I dont why the hhigh nitrates but I keep doing water changes more then 1 a week and I cant seem to bring them down and my tap water is acidic 6 ph out of the tap so I get nervous doing to much at a time. I have been feeding very little only 1 a day and they act like they are starving any ideas .ohh and the nitrates arent high out of the tap. I dont do mre then a 25% water change at a time because of the ph.