bkiggy
Aquarium Advice Addict
I just tested my water and everything is zero except nitrAte !! Over 80ppm ;( What to do?
Yes API master kit. I just did 10g WC (40g) tank. All live plants. 2 Cory's died, bamboo shrimp, red cherry shrimp. Cleaned Fluval 406 well. Changed 2 filter pads (have 4), replaced carbon 2 pads out of 3. Put new Purigen. Added Prime and Stability
- will check again in morning.
So you replaced all your filter pads leaving no old ones? Before I go any further I just wanna be sure that is in fact what you did. That I'd say could be the answer right there.
So you replaced all your filter pads leaving no old ones? Before I go any further I just wanna be sure that is in fact what you did. That I'd say could be the answer right there.
Changing filter elements will not result in high nitrates. High nitrates are cause by a perfectly functioning filter; filters are nitrate factories. Purigen is supposed to reduce nitrate, but I have never used it, so can't verify. Nitrates can be reduced by keeping the filter clean so that solid materials that find their way into the filter, are removed before they have a chance to break down.
So, high nitrates mean the filter is working as intended, but you haven't changed enough water, or frequently enough or you are allowing the build up of detritus in the filter, or all of the above.
bkiggy said:The WC and cleaning I did last night did nothing to take level down. Still at +/-80 nitrAte. I did another 10g WC this morning ( 40g tank) - what usually causes this? I'm now wondering if Cory is going to make it. Very pale. Not orange