Nitrates

[ginger7286]

I test my water twice a week. my ammonia and nitrite levels are zero but my nitrate level is usually about a 4 or a 5 (I do my weekly water change once a week during my reserved tank time) My tank is fairly new, fish have only been residents about one month. Is this my tank cycling or am I missing something? I'd hate to loose a creature. Please let me know if this is normal.

[JetCat USA]

detectable NO3 levels are very normal, try to keep them less then 20ppm for reefs, less then 10ppm would be better but it's hard to get one at zero. i use a PinPoint NO3 monitor and even on my 75 which has a normal zero reading i can get a 2 ppm reading a day after a heavy feeding.

[bertoni]

Nitrate doesn't affect fish, so they should be fine. That level of nitrate is low, but stony corals might have some problems, if that's a concern.

[ginger7286]

Thanks, I was wondering how they are kept at zero. I appreciate all your help.

[JetCat USA]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10651138#post10651138 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ginger7286
I was wondering how they are kept at zero.

most aren't, those who are reporting zero have test kits that just aren't capable of reading that low a concentration. several of the local guys who have swore up and down their systems have been at zero NO3 for yrs and yrs didn't have a whole lot to say when i used my PinPoint monitor on their system and it showed greater then 5ppm on most and one even had over 20ppm (he used Red Sea test kits)

[Billybeau1]

The nitrate level in my fish only tank is around 120ppm. :eek1:

Yet my fish are happy and healthy. :D

I don't lose any sleep over it. ;)

[bertoni]

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/august2003/chem.htm

That article discusses a lot of approaches to reducing nitrate.

[ginger7286]

Thanks for all your help and knowledge it is appreciated