So, my tank has recently finished cycling (after 2 months, I went the cycling with fish route cause I didn't know any better, its been 1.5 weeks since it cycled).
Last PWC was 50% 12 days ago (changed it due to seeing 0.25ppm nitrItes)
Since then I have had 0 or <0.25ppm ammonia, 0ppm nitrItes and mostly 0 or <5ppm nitrAtes. I have been testing daily and 2 days ago I saw 15-20ppm nitrAtes and was planning to do a PWC yesterday but I retested and nitrAtes were 5ppm and today they are at almost 0ppm (nitrItes and ammonia are 0ppm). I saw the nitrAte increase after feeding more than I usually do (I had added an african dwarf frog, but my red tail tinfoil barbs would eat everything before he could eat so I took him back to the store and got a peacock spiny eel instead)
My tank is a planted 20gal with 3 melon swords, 1 bamboo, 1 moneywort, 1 anubias and 2 jungle vals. I have read that plants will consume nitrAte but that fast?
Also, if my plants are in fact taking care of the nitrAtes how often should I do PWCs?
The only things I have added to the tank is some API leaf zone 5 days ago and some nutrafin cycle when I added the ADF.
PS: I know all those fish will get too big for 20gal, planning on upgrading to a 75gal in a few months.
Thanks for any replies
Last PWC was 50% 12 days ago (changed it due to seeing 0.25ppm nitrItes)
Since then I have had 0 or <0.25ppm ammonia, 0ppm nitrItes and mostly 0 or <5ppm nitrAtes. I have been testing daily and 2 days ago I saw 15-20ppm nitrAtes and was planning to do a PWC yesterday but I retested and nitrAtes were 5ppm and today they are at almost 0ppm (nitrItes and ammonia are 0ppm). I saw the nitrAte increase after feeding more than I usually do (I had added an african dwarf frog, but my red tail tinfoil barbs would eat everything before he could eat so I took him back to the store and got a peacock spiny eel instead)
My tank is a planted 20gal with 3 melon swords, 1 bamboo, 1 moneywort, 1 anubias and 2 jungle vals. I have read that plants will consume nitrAte but that fast?
Also, if my plants are in fact taking care of the nitrAtes how often should I do PWCs?
The only things I have added to the tank is some API leaf zone 5 days ago and some nutrafin cycle when I added the ADF.
PS: I know all those fish will get too big for 20gal, planning on upgrading to a 75gal in a few months.
Thanks for any replies