Nitrates
- Thread starter marlin85
- Start date
geaux xman
New member
i think i've seen 1 or 2 guys on here claiming their FOWLR system having <10 nitrates. is that believable?
dzfish17
Active member
My tank is at 20 ppm. I only have 25 fish with weekly 10% water changes. Ive heard that higher nitrates doesnt harm the fish but I still like to keep mine low.
Actually I think if you are in the low 100 you should be fine. I have less than 10ppm nitrates but its honestly its not really my goal. It just happens that I have a fairly large tank with 2 fish and a giant ball of cheato.
On a side note-- I just replaced all my bulbs and am getting some crazy algae growth in my display tank. I guess that happens some times
On a side note-- I just replaced all my bulbs and am getting some crazy algae growth in my display tank. I guess that happens some times
namxas
Things With Stings R Us!
Assuming you're using the same color temp lamps, your algae most likely growth bloomed because the new lamps are brighter than the old ones. You can cut back a tad on your photoperiod until the tank gets "used" to the new lamps (and the lamps "burn-in" a bit), then bump it back up little by little.
MrTuskfish
Team RC
I've never seen anything, except for some anecdotal evidence regarding a few species, that nitrate at any level hurts fish. Bob Fenner mentions fish being kept long-term with nitrates in the 1000's ppm. Aquacultured SW fish, like salmon and red snapper also are raised with nitrates off the charts. that said, there is a level (maybe 60-80ppm, IMO) where a high nitrate level indicates a general lack of good housekeeping. MY FOWLR tanks are about 60ppm.
MrTuskfish
Team RC
Two possibilities. 1.) faulty test kit. 2.) light stocking, lots of mature LR, and plenty of WCs. (I didn't include the 3rd---old fashioned BS.)
sandwi54
New member
It's definitely possible. With a refugium, good skimmer, and lots of large, deep live rocks all combined, it's possible to get nitrate down to a low level. Of course, stocking shouldn't be too high.
When my tank was moderately stocked, I had on average 5-10ppm of nitrate (sometimes zero). But I have a refugium, lots of large pieces of live rocks, and a nice SWC cone skimmer that kicks a$$! I love my skimmer!
MrTuskfish
Team RC
Yes, that's normal for a lot of fish. the bigger the HT, the sooner they get brave, IME. It varies from fish to fish of course. I think this seasons crop of AHTs has been incredible, you'll love him. Lots of meaty stuff, like raw shrimp, and they are jumpers, like almost all wrasse.
BTW, a question that doesn't follow the thread is best handled by starting your own thread or a PM. Its confusing (especially for us in the geezer crowd, when a thread goes in different directions.....and the OP doesn't get the help he needs. Just for future info.
seanothon
New member
I was using Instant Ocean Natural Nitrate Reducer for a couple months and took my nitrates from 60-80 down to 0, at one point. I just wanted to see how it worked so I am no longer using it and I assumed the bacteria it bred was still around. My nitrates have been lower (10-20) but never back to zero
