nitrate issues
- Thread starter louoner
- Start date
- Location
- Long Island
how old is this tank?
- Location
- Staten Island
Water Change
If you do a 50% water change you may cause a shock to the system, do smaller changes that equal 50% over a few days. How high are your Nitrates? What are you feeding and how much, how big are the fishes?
If you do a 50% water change you may cause a shock to the system, do smaller changes that equal 50% over a few days. How high are your Nitrates? What are you feeding and how much, how big are the fishes?
- Location
- Suffolk, Long Island
What kind of filtration do you have?
What model protein skimmer? Is it producing much?
What are you feeding, and how often?
What model protein skimmer? Is it producing much?
What are you feeding, and how often?
- Location
- Suffolk, Long Island
And how old are the test kits you have tried?
Make sure to use a new, non-strip test kit.
If you do a large water change, pay extra attention to salinity, PH, and temperature. And be sure to mix the new water for at least 24 hours.
Make sure to use a new, non-strip test kit.
If you do a large water change, pay extra attention to salinity, PH, and temperature. And be sure to mix the new water for at least 24 hours.
i have 20 gallon sump with a euro skimmer,3inch sand bed, 2 chemipure and a mag 7 then i have a cpr med fuge with some cheato hanging on the back the fish are a naked clown,black and white clown 3 chromis and a 5 inch blue hippo i been feeding them once a day
- Location
- Suffolk, Long Island
What is the latest nitrate reading?
Had you been keeping up with water changes in the last year or so? What sort of schedule?
Did your substrate come from the old tank? Did you test your nitrates after the move? Or is this the first time you've tested them in a long time?
If you're trying to feed less, keep an eye on that Hippo. It's hard to skimp and keep a fish like that fat and healthy. What are you feeding him by the way?
Had you been keeping up with water changes in the last year or so? What sort of schedule?
Did your substrate come from the old tank? Did you test your nitrates after the move? Or is this the first time you've tested them in a long time?
If you're trying to feed less, keep an eye on that Hippo. It's hard to skimp and keep a fish like that fat and healthy. What are you feeding him by the way?
- Location
- Suffolk, Long Island
If your ammonia and nitrites are 0, the 75 sounds like it is cycled.
A 50% water change can be done with the fish left in the tank, as long as you match the PH, salinity, and temperature.
Are the fish showing any signs of stress in the 75?
- Location
- Suffolk, Long Island
I would start mixing water, and do a water changes every few days until you get your nitrates back under control.
Nitrates alone will not immediately kill your fish, but they are a good indicator of general water quality.
I neglected a 75 for a few years, and it took about 4 30% water changes to get the nitrates back under 20.
I did these over the course of about two weeks, as I let all new water mix for a couple of days before adding it to the tank.
You might also try some frozen foods, just rinse any that look cloudy once defrosted.
And get some seaweed sheets for that tang. And before long, it will be time to get him in a bigger tank! Actually, doing that now will help you with nitrate levels. You should try selling or trading him if you don't have a larger tank for him.
Nitrates alone will not immediately kill your fish, but they are a good indicator of general water quality.
I neglected a 75 for a few years, and it took about 4 30% water changes to get the nitrates back under 20.
I did these over the course of about two weeks, as I let all new water mix for a couple of days before adding it to the tank.
You might also try some frozen foods, just rinse any that look cloudy once defrosted.
And get some seaweed sheets for that tang. And before long, it will be time to get him in a bigger tank! Actually, doing that now will help you with nitrate levels. You should try selling or trading him if you don't have a larger tank for him.
- Location
- Suffolk, Long Island
Test the nitrates before and after the 30% change, let us know how you make out.
New water is ideally mixed for 24 hours or longer. Some people mix for a week. There's a lot of chemical reactions going on, as well as aeration of the water. But mixing time will not impact your nitrates.
- Location
- Suffolk, Long Island
There's no substitute for water changes.
Water changes not only export nitrates, but other undesirables we either don't, or can't test for.
I'm guessing this tank has not had enough water changes recently, because louoner has not said how often he has been doing them.
And an avatar with two kids means that time for water changes is not always a luxury he has.
If 2 or 3 substantial water changes do not show a big improvement, then I would start considering other causes and solutions.
Water changes not only export nitrates, but other undesirables we either don't, or can't test for.
I'm guessing this tank has not had enough water changes recently, because louoner has not said how often he has been doing them.
And an avatar with two kids means that time for water changes is not always a luxury he has.
If 2 or 3 substantial water changes do not show a big improvement, then I would start considering other causes and solutions.
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