cudamaster13
New member
wat should the levels be that are okay for my minitas coral grouper,moray and archers i try to keep it at zero but beneath wat level would it not harm my fish?
nitrate levels?
- Thread starter cudamaster13
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fender4string
New member
There's some debate on this issue but I've heard many times that high levels of nitrate will not harm your fish (by not harm I mean has never been proven by science). That being said, I still aim for zero.
I believe high levels of nitrates can affect other water parameters but I can't remember the specifics...Help, more experienced reefers
!
I believe high levels of nitrates can affect other water parameters but I can't remember the specifics...Help, more experienced reefers
!
cudamaster13
New member
i wonder wats cuasing my coral grouper to act funny than should i do a massive water change just in case?
kirkaz
Jade
Nitrates don't harm fish, however I will say this, if you are newish to the hobby you should try to keep them as low as possible until you have an understanding of your tank and what it needs to keep your inhabitants healthy long term. Doing regular water changes, having quality filtration/skimming, appropriate feedings, and appropriate stocking, and your water chemistry will take care of itself. I truly don't remember the last time I tested for ANYTHING in my 240, the last time I did test Nitrates, they were around 80, I'm sure that was over a year ago.
kirkaz
Jade
If anything I would test for ph, ammonia, and nitrite....Nitrate would be the last of your worries.....Do you have enough water movement? and please elaborate on "act funny".
MrTuskfish
Team RC
I don't think nitrates in any of my FOWLR tanks have ever been under about 40 ppm. Other than some anecdotal evidence involving certain species, I'm not aware of any study that shows nitrates, at any level, bother fish at all. If nitrates did bother fish at a given level; I'm sure there would be studies to prove it; because of the money spent on nitrate reducing products. Bob Fenner, in "The Conscience Marine Aquarist' (1st ed.) talks about fish living with nitrates in the hundreds, even thousands of ppm; without problems. He then adds, of course, the lower the better. I have kept many tough fish for many years without even testing for nitrate ;prior to LR being used to control nitrate. I'm sure nitrate exceeded 100ppm at that time. However; I think excessively high nitrate can indicate an overall lack of good housekeeping . Grab a sample of your LFS and test it some time, you'll be amazed. BTW, LA suggests nitrate in a FOWLR tank not exceed 30 ppm and I see no reason to argue with that. Nitrates at say, under 10ppm, would be nice; but I'm not going to kill myself or my wallet getting there when it isn't necessary. All of the above drivel is for FOWLR tanks, of course.
MrTuskfish
Team RC
+1 I don't think I've ever tested nitrate with a fish health/behavior issue.
saltyguy51
New member
salmon live in nitrate levels of 3000 in some of the "farm raised" ponds, taste fine to me, all in all like allready stated nitrates are the least of our worries if you have high nitrites you're going to have amonia problems and lots of fish can even adapt to different ph levels as long as it's not real drastic
MrTuskfish
Team RC
IMO & IME, here's where the differences of opinion began.
I can remember when nitrates weren't even "discovered" and I don't even think a test kit for nitrate was available. With LR making reefkeeping more of a reality; the importance of nitrate became important. The idea that nitrate as near "0" as possible for reefs, carried over to fish. Many hobbyists are shocked when they hear this; having built a FOWLR with everything geared to reef tank standards. A FOWLR with next to zero nitrate is great, and I applaud their owners ; but (IMO) we shouldn't be telling new FOWLR hobbyists that they must maintain nitrate at those low levels. I'm not suggesting sky-high nitrate either; just a level that the average guy can do and afford. They are also many FOWLR owners going nuts over calcium, CH, iodine, and many other reef concerns that he shouldn't have to worry about.
I can remember when nitrates weren't even "discovered" and I don't even think a test kit for nitrate was available. With LR making reefkeeping more of a reality; the importance of nitrate became important. The idea that nitrate as near "0" as possible for reefs, carried over to fish. Many hobbyists are shocked when they hear this; having built a FOWLR with everything geared to reef tank standards. A FOWLR with next to zero nitrate is great, and I applaud their owners ; but (IMO) we shouldn't be telling new FOWLR hobbyists that they must maintain nitrate at those low levels. I'm not suggesting sky-high nitrate either; just a level that the average guy can do and afford. They are also many FOWLR owners going nuts over calcium, CH, iodine, and many other reef concerns that he shouldn't have to worry about.
saltyguy51
New member
applause for mrtuskfish
