Nitrates

ginger7286 · 08/27/2007, 11:39 AM

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 · 08/27/2007, 01:17 PM

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 · 08/27/2007, 04:09 PM

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 · 08/28/2007, 07:50 AM

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

JetCat USA · 08/28/2007, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally posted 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 · 08/28/2007, 02:17 PM

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

Yet my fish are happy and healthy.

I don't lose any sleep over it.

bertoni · 08/28/2007, 04:22 PM

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issu...t2003/chem.htm

That article discusses a lot of approaches to reducing nitrate.

ginger7286 · 08/29/2007, 05:31 PM

Thanks for all your help and knowledge it is appreciated

08/27/2007, 11:39 AM	#1
ginger7286 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Lake Worth, Florida Posts: 728	Nitrates 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.

08/27/2007, 04:09 PM	#3
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	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. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

08/28/2007, 07:50 AM	#4
ginger7286 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Lake Worth, Florida Posts: 728	Thanks, I was wondering how they are kept at zero. I appreciate all your help. __________________ Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways totally worn out shouting "Holy crap...what a ride!" Current Tank Info: 125 Reef Tank, Precision Marine equipment with a live rock/sand filtration. 30G. Nano with 2 percs and a beautiful little Flaming Prawn Goby.

08/28/2007, 04:22 PM	#7
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issu...t2003/chem.htm That article discusses a lot of approaches to reducing nitrate. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

08/29/2007, 05:31 PM	#8
ginger7286 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Lake Worth, Florida Posts: 728	Thanks for all your help and knowledge it is appreciated __________________ Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways totally worn out shouting "Holy crap...what a ride!" Current Tank Info: 125 Reef Tank, Precision Marine equipment with a live rock/sand filtration. 30G. Nano with 2 percs and a beautiful little Flaming Prawn Goby.

08/27/2007, 01:17 PM	#2
JetCat USA Moved On Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 2,847	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.

08/28/2007, 02:17 PM	#6
Billybeau1 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Dyer, Indiana Posts: 12,010	The nitrate level in my fish only tank is around 120ppm. Yet my fish are happy and healthy. I don't lose any sleep over it.