McLumpy
Aquarium Advice FINatic
I'm beginning my 2nd week of treating an Ich outbreak and I just tested my Nitrates... 160ppm!!!
I want to do a water change, but I don't want to lose the amount of Ich-Attack that I currently have in my tank. It is doing well at getting rid of the Ich and my fish are returning back to "normal", but the nitrate reading has me concerned.
Tank Specs: 55 gallon/freshwater/community fish/artificial plants/est. 10 mo's ago
Parameters: (results per API Freshwater Master Test Kit)
pH - 7.6
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 160 (Nitrate level straight from tap - 5.0)
Also, the pH is higher than I like, but I have a piece of Mopani soaking and I had planned on adding it after my Ich issue is over to help decrease the pH. I also plan on doing a 50% water change, adding carbon back to the filter media, and slowly decreasing the temp after my battle w/ the Ich is over.
The last PWC was performed a week ago before I started treating the tank w/ Ich-Attack. I did a 50% water change w/ a thorough vacuum of the gravel substrate.
I have treated 2 Ich outbreaks in the past with success and never ran into a Nitrate spike like this! Any idea what would cause this? How can I drop the Nitrate level w/o stalling out my Ich treatment?
Btw, my fish are active and eating well again so I have no doubt the treatment is working! (However a few are still flashing, but not nearly as bad as they were). I figure I have at least one more week before I have won the Ich battle.
TIA for any advice!
I want to do a water change, but I don't want to lose the amount of Ich-Attack that I currently have in my tank. It is doing well at getting rid of the Ich and my fish are returning back to "normal", but the nitrate reading has me concerned.
Tank Specs: 55 gallon/freshwater/community fish/artificial plants/est. 10 mo's ago
Parameters: (results per API Freshwater Master Test Kit)
pH - 7.6
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 160 (Nitrate level straight from tap - 5.0)
Also, the pH is higher than I like, but I have a piece of Mopani soaking and I had planned on adding it after my Ich issue is over to help decrease the pH. I also plan on doing a 50% water change, adding carbon back to the filter media, and slowly decreasing the temp after my battle w/ the Ich is over.
The last PWC was performed a week ago before I started treating the tank w/ Ich-Attack. I did a 50% water change w/ a thorough vacuum of the gravel substrate.
I have treated 2 Ich outbreaks in the past with success and never ran into a Nitrate spike like this! Any idea what would cause this? How can I drop the Nitrate level w/o stalling out my Ich treatment?
Btw, my fish are active and eating well again so I have no doubt the treatment is working! (However a few are still flashing, but not nearly as bad as they were). I figure I have at least one more week before I have won the Ich battle.
TIA for any advice!