Eggheadfish
Aquarium Advice Addict
Hi guys,
I'm having a bit of an issue with my nitrate levels in my 55 gallon.
Stock: 2 silver dollars, one hi fin lyretail, one black phantom tetra, seven gold pristella tetras, and 21 assorted cories plus 6 fry.
I noticed one of the smaller cories developing some fungus and just generally not behaving normally so I quarantined him. Another seemed to be following the same path so I tested the water. Nitrates were in the 80ppm range.
Normally I suck up excess food and waste with a baster 4 times per week and do a 50% water change. Ive reduced feeding and done two 40% water changes this week in addition to normal maintenance and I'm still testing at around 40ppm.
Feeding normally consists of a small pinch of flakes for the tetras and swordtail (or bloodworms/tubifex/brine shrimp), some sinking shrimp pellets for the cories, and algae wafers for the silver dollars. The fry are in a breeder trap and getting first bites a few times a day and I suck up the leftover food before each new feeding.
I tested my tap water and it measured 0ppm.
I skipped feeding for today and did another PWC and will measure again later tonight or tomorrow.
I know I have a lot of stock, but I do my best to make sure I'm covering the bases and I can't seem to drive the nitrates down. I'm not sure if I need to do more small PWC during the week or what.
Since the cories had simple body fungus and improved in quarantine, I'm guessing they're just more susceptible to the funk on the bottom, but like I said I remove uneaten food, and I have sand which I turn when I clean the tank. I also have some water lettuce and java moss in the tank (I can't add any other plants)
If anyone has any additional suggestions I would very much appreciate it.
I'm having a bit of an issue with my nitrate levels in my 55 gallon.
Stock: 2 silver dollars, one hi fin lyretail, one black phantom tetra, seven gold pristella tetras, and 21 assorted cories plus 6 fry.
I noticed one of the smaller cories developing some fungus and just generally not behaving normally so I quarantined him. Another seemed to be following the same path so I tested the water. Nitrates were in the 80ppm range.
Normally I suck up excess food and waste with a baster 4 times per week and do a 50% water change. Ive reduced feeding and done two 40% water changes this week in addition to normal maintenance and I'm still testing at around 40ppm.
Feeding normally consists of a small pinch of flakes for the tetras and swordtail (or bloodworms/tubifex/brine shrimp), some sinking shrimp pellets for the cories, and algae wafers for the silver dollars. The fry are in a breeder trap and getting first bites a few times a day and I suck up the leftover food before each new feeding.
I tested my tap water and it measured 0ppm.
I skipped feeding for today and did another PWC and will measure again later tonight or tomorrow.
I know I have a lot of stock, but I do my best to make sure I'm covering the bases and I can't seem to drive the nitrates down. I'm not sure if I need to do more small PWC during the week or what.
Since the cories had simple body fungus and improved in quarantine, I'm guessing they're just more susceptible to the funk on the bottom, but like I said I remove uneaten food, and I have sand which I turn when I clean the tank. I also have some water lettuce and java moss in the tank (I can't add any other plants)
If anyone has any additional suggestions I would very much appreciate it.