nitrates

[timwag2001]

how come my nitrates NEVER drop?

i bought 8 viles and test every saturday before my pwc and they are consantly at 40ppm which is the same coming into my tank.

WTF!!!

 

[Jacko]

what are your stocking levels and filtration? Have you tested your tap or well water to see if maybe that has nitrates in it?

 

[SWerner13]

You could be in some sort of equilibrium so to speak. Your fish are producing waste that meets the amount of waste used by your plants? And I know my tap is at 10ppm which could also be affecting it? Just some guesses

 

[timwag2001]

the water coming from my tap is 40ppm and the water before my change is 40 pm.

i thought the equilibrium might be a factor so i removed 5 mollys and a platy... still not going anywhere.

i'm gonna step it up w ferts and hope that helps

 

[SWerner13]

just to clarify, you say your tap water is at 40ppm? And I don't think there is a need to move out fish really 40ppm is still considered reasonably safe especially with hardy fish. As long as it is not going up either. And I think ferts would help balance things out and allow your plants to use more N.

 

[Hoovercat]

Make a solution of distilled water and KNO3 to check your test kit. It may be "off" by 40ppm.

 

[timwag2001]

i tested a bottle of spring water and the nitrates were lower than 5ppm

 

[Hairy_Harold]

Unsure if you can get this in america but try find a product called Eco Bio Blocks they will remove nitrates for 12-18months. It's some kind of filter media impregnated with bacteria that consumes nitrates. Yes it does work, I know people that use it in multi tank sumped breeding systems. It's basically like Seachem Purigen but better