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BarberBio

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In a well-established 55-Gallon freshwater tank, my chemical levels are consistantly as follows:
NO3+ = 200+ mg/ml
NO2- = negligable
Hardness = 75GH ppm = soft
Alkalinity = 40 KH ppm = low
pH = 5.5 or lower

My water is always crystal clear and algal growth is maintained. I tried adding a few large plants to utilize the nitrate, but they perished quickly I think b/c of the low pH. I add pH neutralizer when I do 25% water changes and other times. I have a canister filter.

I have lost 3 fish in the last year, but the remaining fish seem to be doing well. (2 kissing gourami, 5 tiger barbs, 1 spanner barb, 2 bleeding heart tetras, a pleco).

What can I do to get my nitrate and pH to neutral -- or at least less toxic?
 
A

Anonymous

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Your pH is too low...chances are its inhibiting nitrification. You should check your ammonia...NO3 that high wouldn't/shouldn't be killing fish.

If you are doing regular water changes I'd say that there's a good chance that the water out of the tap has a low alkalinity. If the alkalinity is low, the buffer capacity will be low...thus the pH will drop very quickly in the tank. When the pH falls below 6.0 nitrification is inhibited. When the pH falls below 5.5 the nitrogen cycle is virtually halted completly.

If your tap water has a low alkalinity (KH) value I'd recommend adding some crushed coral to your filter. You can mix it in with your carbon or simply add a little bag of it...a women's nylon stocking works quite well.

If the KH of your tap water is Ok (100-150ppm) you simply need to do water changes more often. Judging by your elevated nitrate, I'd guess that this is the most likely scenario.
 

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