jackdp
Aquarium Advice FINatic
Our well water here in C. Pa is very hard and high in nitrates. I have a RO/DI filter for my reef tank and just recently setup a planted 15 gallon tank with 3 dwarf puffers and 3 oto algae eaters. Question...what is a good number to shoot for of nitrates in the tank. I test the tank water with a Seachem nitrite/nitrate kit and the nitrates are off the scale even with a 2:1 dilution. The tank uses stock lighting for a 15gal with a 5500K NO bulb. The only thing I dose is Aq Pharm Leaf Zone (iron and pottasium?) Substrate is gravel only.. plants in now are..Wisteria, Java Fern, Water Sprite, Cabomba, crypt and a mystery sword plant. Guess I'm wondering if the high nitrates are okay with the plants and fish, I plan on diluting the well water with DI water to get a medium softness and that will dilute the nitrates...or is it better to use the hard tapwater with the high nitrates? I know the nitrates will benefit the plants but aren't they bad for the fish? Should I be dosing anything else? I've never done the heavily planted tank thing before. TIA Below is a pic before the Cobomba was added. One water sprite plant is turning brown (I think the stem is broken or rotted) other wise everything seems to be doing well.