NewToFish1989
Aquarium Advice Activist
- Joined
- Sep 30, 2013
- Messages
- 112
Is it true canister filters are the cause for high Nitrates, especially if left for months without a good clean?
I'm asking because I went to a pet store today to pick some fish in that was specially orded and got into a conversation with another customer and a store manager who was having issues with high nitrates.
I asked him (customer) how often he cleaned his canister filter out and he said every 6 months which to me seemed way to long between maintance
So I'm guessing if left for over a month, even 3 months seems along time, can the canister filter get so dirty where the mess is just spat back out and cause of endless high nitrates even after many large water changes.
I have this month neglected my own canister filter down to being ill so cleaned mine 2 days ago as well as another water change and now my nitrates on my salifert test kit is reading 0ppm nitrate after being at 40ppm for a while
Heard Salifert was saltwater but asked around and can be used for fresh water as well.
I'm asking because I went to a pet store today to pick some fish in that was specially orded and got into a conversation with another customer and a store manager who was having issues with high nitrates.
I asked him (customer) how often he cleaned his canister filter out and he said every 6 months which to me seemed way to long between maintance
So I'm guessing if left for over a month, even 3 months seems along time, can the canister filter get so dirty where the mess is just spat back out and cause of endless high nitrates even after many large water changes.
I have this month neglected my own canister filter down to being ill so cleaned mine 2 days ago as well as another water change and now my nitrates on my salifert test kit is reading 0ppm nitrate after being at 40ppm for a while
Heard Salifert was saltwater but asked around and can be used for fresh water as well.