Nitrate levels

[Philip99]

Just have a quick question, what are the best nitrate levels in a heavily planted fish tank?

 

[Scouser]

Heavily planted tanks can have 0 nitrates.

I'd say if I heavily planted I'd aim for 5-10ppm, but that'd depend on stocking too I guess

 

[CorallineAlgae]

So true. In my 20g heavily planted tank I have to add nitrates every 2-3 days to keep them above 0. I feed about 4 times a day, too. Small small feedings though.

 

[Interloper]

So true. In my 20g heavily planted tank I have to add nitrates every 2-3 days to keep them above 0. I feed about 4 times a day, too. Small small feedings though.

I hope I'm not derailing...but...you add nitrates? Did I miss something in researching plants? Hehe

 

[Philip99]

How do you guys keep up your nitrate levels? Mine are currently at 0ppm

 

[rkilling1]

How do you guys keep up your nitrate levels? Mine are currently at 0ppm

By adding KNO3. I keep my nitrates between 40 and 80 ppm.

 

[Interloper]

By adding KNO3. I keep my nitrates between 40 and 80 ppm.

Isn't that bad for the fish? I'm pretty new so this is news to me lol I thought you want zeros across the board...

 

[CorallineAlgae]

Isn't that bad for the fish? I'm pretty new so this is news to me lol I thought you want zeros across the board...

Most fish that people keep with plants can handle some nitrates. In a regular community fish tank you really do want 0's across the board. The reason you want 0 nitrates in regular tanks is to control algae. Nitrate is a fertilizer that spurs plant growth. In a tank with a plastic ship and plastic plants it's bad to have in the water because only algae can use it. In a tank full of growing live plants, the plants will use the nitrates. Without it they can suffer. Same with phosphates. In a fish only tank nitrate grows algae. In your tank it'll help your plants.

For instance, if you had a healthy good looking fish tank, without plants, and added co2, root tabs and ferts it would be a disaster. Would be like trying to feed a hatchet fish tank sinking algae wafers. It's the wrong food for that fish. Nitrates are a type of plant food. If you have plants you want nitrate. If you only have fish you don't. Man, I'm half asleep. I hope I'm making sense!

 

[Interloper]

Makes sense to me...I just didn't know that...I have a tank right now that's planted and I'm stressing cause its a 20ppm nitrates...

So that being said...not that I really wanna push it but when should I start to stress about nitrate levels in a planted tank?

 

[CorallineAlgae]

You don't have to stress at all! Your levels are fine as long as you're doing regular water changes. I wish I had nitrates without having to add them. Not knowing the details about these things and asking about this stuff is what the forums are all about! Keep up the good work.

 

[Philip99]

Would just simply using flourish comprehensive help in increasing my levels to about 10ppm?

 

[rkilling1]

Would just simply using flourish comprehensive help in increasing my levels to about 10ppm?

If you dumped the entire bottle into your tank, you still wouldn't reach 10 ppm NO3.

You need an NO3 suppliment and not a trace nutrient.

 

[jetajockey]

If you dumped the entire bottle into your tank, you still wouldn't reach 10 ppm NO3.

You need an NO3 suppliment and not a trace nutrient.

That'd depend on tank volume. Flourish comp does have N in it, albeit a small amount. It'd take something like 4.5ish oz to get to 10ppm no3 in a 10g. Its obviously meant as an all around micromix foremost.

Dosing no3 directly via flourish nitrogen or actual kno3 is the most feasible option (besides adding more bioload) if the no3 levels are bottoming out.

 

[CorallineAlgae]

Dosing no3 directly via flourish nitrogen or actual kno3 is the most feasible option (besides adding more bioload) if the no3 levels are bottoming out.

+1
In a small tank flourish nitrogen would be one way to get your nitrates up. That's if you want something you can get from a shop. The bottles don't last long unless you have a 10g or smaller setup. Getting it dry is way more economical in the long run. You will need some measuring equipment (small digital scale) if you decide to go that rout.

 

[rkilling1]

That'd depend on tank volume. Flourish comp does have N in it, albeit a small amount. It'd take something like 4.5ish oz to get to 10ppm no3 in a 10g. Its obviously meant as an all around micromix foremost.

He has a 55 gallon tank. If you add an entire 500ml bottle into this tank it will not reach 10ppm NO3.

 

[rkilling1]

You will need some measuring equipment (small digital scale) if you decide to go that rout.

That is not true. You can use standard measuring spoons and be just fine. I scale would be more exact, but not required.

 

[jetajockey]

He has a 55 gallon tank. If you add an entire 500ml bottle into this tank it will not reach 10ppm NO3.

Sorry I missed the part where he said his tank size.

 

[CorallineAlgae]

That is not true. You can use standard measuring spoons and be just fine. I scale would be more exact, but not required.

You're right. I was thinking he had a small tank too. I have a 20g so some empty flourish bottles to mix dry ferts so a scale is just my preferred method. With a 55 the regular size EZ dose bottles would make more sense and work fine with measuring spoons. Good call. I have a high tech system so I tend to think in precise measurements.

 

[Philip99]

Could 0ppm nitrate levels contribute to a bacterial bloom?

 

[jetajockey]

I'm not sure about that, but I do know that they tend to happen when someone replaces filter media, huge water change, substrate change, or some other thing upsets the balance in the tank.