nitrate question

[Meredith]

I have an established tank, 55 gallon. What is in it is...1 white cloud 1 white tetra, 1 cory, 6 harlequin rasboras, 2 otos, and 2 ghost shrimp. I just added two live plants. I am having problems with my nitrates. they are constantly between 20 and 40ppm. I would like to get them down around 10ppm or less. I do 20 to 30% water changes once a week, and there is ammonia in my tap water but no nitrates or nitrites. Will doing smaller more frequent water changes bring the nitriates down and do I have to gravel vac every time?

 

[TankGirl]

Welcome to AA, Meredith!

There is nothing wrong with nitrate at 20-40ppm, as that is where most cycled tanks will be on any given day. Your fish are able to tolerate that no problem.

Also, plants use nitrate as a nutrient so as you add plants that will help quite a bit, assuming you have adequate light for them.

You have a very light bioload for that size tank so water changes (assuming your tap does not contain 20-40ppm nitrate) will certainly help. Gravel vacs should be done if you have a lot of crud on the bottom (also can contribute to higher nitrate) but if you do have a lot of crud then cutting back on feeding is a good idea. When you vac concentrate on specific areas of the tank each time so you don't get the entire bottom stirred up at once.

 

[Meredith]

Good to know! I have had an aquarium for over a year, this is my first "big" one though and I am totally new to all this testing. Should I test my water every day?

 

[TankGirl]

If the fish are doing well and everything is going normally then I would check it weekly.

 

[deeni0z]

Adequate lighting

Also, plants use nitrate as a nutrient so as you add plants that will help quite a bit, assuming you have adequate light for them.

I have a jebo r362 and it comes with a cover and trickle filter. Inside the over has 2 fluorescent lights. I only turn 1 on at a time because when I have 2, even the light is too bright for my eyes. I'm afraid of blinding my fish BUT I need adequate light for my plants. AARGH!

How much light is enough?

 

[TankGirl]

deeni0z - maybe you can start a thread about it in the planted tank forum, but I'm not sure how many watts your fixture has. Usually 2wpg is a decent place to start, 2.5 - 3wpg and you can grow quite a lot of plants, and quite a lot of algae if you are not careful about nutrients.

I am running a tank with over 4wpg and the fish don't seem to care, since they are the same fish as when the tank was about 1wpg, but I have to watch over this tank like a hawk.