Hello!
My tank has had high NO3 levels for the past two weeks and I am struggling to get them down.
My tank is 200 litres and contains 2 mollies, 1 black widow tetra, 1 silver tipped tetra, 1 catfish and 3 leopard corydora's. It has sand on the bottom (which gets agitated when cleaning) along with a few plants and ornaments.
After testing I did a 15% water change and tested the day after and the levels had not gone down. A week of doing this and they have gone down but not to where they should be. Yesterday I cleaned the filter as well (it was in desperate need of doing - it could not have been left). When I do a water change I siphon the water and use the pipe to clear out the faeces on the bottom of the tank.
I have tested my tap water directly and it is at number 1. The levels have gone from 80 to 30, I had hoped they would have gone completely after the week. I use the JBL combiset kit.
Is the water change enough? Should I be doing a bigger water change? Also, any recommendations on fish would be appreciated, I have been thinking about extra corydora's and guppies. I am aware my tank is understocked, however, I am reluctant to put new fish in until this is under control.
Sorry for all the information but any advice would be greatly appreciated as I am at my wits end and starting to worry about my aquarium.
Many, many thanks in advance.
My tank has had high NO3 levels for the past two weeks and I am struggling to get them down.
My tank is 200 litres and contains 2 mollies, 1 black widow tetra, 1 silver tipped tetra, 1 catfish and 3 leopard corydora's. It has sand on the bottom (which gets agitated when cleaning) along with a few plants and ornaments.
After testing I did a 15% water change and tested the day after and the levels had not gone down. A week of doing this and they have gone down but not to where they should be. Yesterday I cleaned the filter as well (it was in desperate need of doing - it could not have been left). When I do a water change I siphon the water and use the pipe to clear out the faeces on the bottom of the tank.
I have tested my tap water directly and it is at number 1. The levels have gone from 80 to 30, I had hoped they would have gone completely after the week. I use the JBL combiset kit.
Is the water change enough? Should I be doing a bigger water change? Also, any recommendations on fish would be appreciated, I have been thinking about extra corydora's and guppies. I am aware my tank is understocked, however, I am reluctant to put new fish in until this is under control.
Sorry for all the information but any advice would be greatly appreciated as I am at my wits end and starting to worry about my aquarium.
Many, many thanks in advance.