Nitrates help

[csoutherland]

He nitrates in my tank are at 80 ppm. I have been told by some fish stores that it is good to have them in there like that. Other stores tell me that they are bad. How can I at least lower them other then doing more water change and supplements?

 

[LaWoWee]

80ppm is way too high. You should try to get them down to <10.

 

[csoutherland]

And I do that how??

 

[bribo12]

Partial water changes

 

[csoutherland]

I do that every week but it doesn't change and it it does they just get higher

 

[Sniperhank]

Well, understand nitrates like this. If you do a 10% water change today, that will take 8 or your 80 out, leaving you with 72. This is why a large water change is sometimes necessary to get ahead of the battle and why we have other methods of nitrate removal like refugiums and algae turf scrubbers.

 

[TheTodd]

I would ask the LFS that told you high nitrates is good to explain their reasoning. I've never heard of a benefit, other than (for them ), it can kill your fish so that you have to buy more from them. Some nitrate is okay, especially in a FOWLR, but you really want to shoot for close to zero.

 

[mr_X]

You need to figure out why the nitrates are high. How much and how often are you feeding? How many fish in what size tank?