Nitrates = 250+

[Randall_James]

contrary to most of the posts here, 250 is not worth getting excited about in a FO or FOWLR tank. I have seen them even higher than that and show no problems. Corals on the other hand do care, they want as close to 0 as possible.

You want them lower? just start doing more water changes.

 

[FREAKABHISHEK]

i am testing my water in high range scale with 4 part of fresh water and one part of salt water and then multiply the sesults by 5

 

[timrandlerv10]

i dont think water changes are making a difference...hit me if i'm off here, but he said:

50% water change, no difference

and

i use tap water

without knowing the n'ates value of your tap water, all the water-related advice we just gave isnt worth the poop decaying in the lower left hand corner of your tank!!!

test that first, then come back

if that is your problem, its a really easy fix...use better water! you can get an ro/di system for home, buy water from the lfs (doh) or maybe your local walmart has a culligan machine.

AND before anyone says 'never do x' test that water before you use it, and if its ok, then great.

guys, keep in mind he may be swapping 20 ppm culligan water for 200 ppm public water before we start telling him what perfect takes...

good luck!

 

[Randall_James]

guess I missed the 50% water change and no change in nitrates... regardless FO or FOWLR really do not care about nitrates very much

 

[FREAKABHISHEK]

i tested my tap water shows it contains 20 ppm of nitrates
and i dont think thats normal - is it

 

[Mavrk]

quite common in tap water. try chaning to ro/di water if you can and see if that helps.

 

[FREAKABHISHEK]

can i use RO instead of RO/DI water

 

[Arnold40]

Brown algae? Sounds like diatoms.....I believe they feed on silicate. Are you using RO/DI?

 

[FREAKABHISHEK]

no
tap water

 

[dillct]

the EPA limit for Nitrates in your tap water is 10ppm. Anything over this and I'd be calling my local water dept. I surely wouldn't be drinking this water.

Most likely your test kit sucks, they all do. Even the expensive ones.

Cheers,
Charles

 

[Arnold40]

use RO/DI water if you can't then go to walmart and buy purified water until you can get a ro/di unit. If you continue to use tap water you are just asking for trouble.

 

[Mavrk]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10690764#post10690764 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by FREAKABHISHEK
can i use RO instead of RO/DI water

RO water is better than tap, but RO/DI is better.

What salt are you using? Sometimes this can be a contributing factor as well.

 

[cd77]

Wow, 50% water change with no effect, and tap water nitrates are less then 1/10th of your tank nitrates. Got pictures? Got a sump/refugium? Do you maintain your DSB?

 

[FREAKABHISHEK]

got a sump
and how do i maintain my dsb

 

[josh&jana]

dude
the redsea test kits are no good,
i have one to and my nitrates show about 50ppm, but in actual fact there 0 when tested by my LFS, i have a reef tank and three anemones and are all doing great,i also do a 20 litre water change every week to.

 

[FREAKABHISHEK]

now thats sounds good

 

[FREAKABHISHEK]

because i have heard that yellow tang is a fish that cannot stand bad water quality and my tang is fit