deepmitch

Hi everyone,

I am new to this forum stuff so if I do or say anything stupid please let me know!!

I have a 185ltr fresh water tank which I have had for about 2 years, My last water test showed very high nitrate levels. I have done quite a few water changes and the levels are dropping but very slowly. They are currently at 100 which I know is still very high.

Are these water changes the best option or is there somthing else I can do to help and speed it up?

Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks from the new one!!

CHoffman

Welcome to Fishlore Deepmitch
Do you know why the nitrates are so high to begin with??..Water changes are the best thing you can do to lower it. How big of waterchanges are you doing and how often. Also what are your other reading looking like..ammonia, nitrite..What fish do you have in your aquarium?

Jess

Welcome to Fishlore!

I second CHoffman. The best thing you can do is water changes and vacuum your substrate. But we need more info. . . Who's living in your aquarium?

deepmitch

Hi,
Ok I have About 15 mixed tetras, 1 Pleco and 4 cory's.
I have only been doing small water changes, about twice a week but on Thursday I did a 50% water change and plan to do a 25% change today and then every other day.
The rest of my readings are good. The nitrites have a reading of 0.
How do I vacuum the substrate, I have about 2 inches of Gravel on top and some sand on top of that?

I also have some plants but please dont ask me what they are called I have no idea!!

agabr123

how are you removing the water from the tank?

do you have a gravel vac that looks something like this...?
http://www.americanaquariumproducts....iumvacuum.html

cerianthus

It is NOT as critical as Ammonia and nitrite so dont panic!!Try keep up with smaller and more frequent PWC. Massive water changes like 50%, even with dechlorinator, can sometimes disturb the well established bio-activities causing elevation of ammonia and nitrite.
Idea is to reduce more than what tank is producing in order to see drop in Nitrate. When vacuuming, do small portion at a time to reduce the disturbances to well established bio-activities. 20-25% changes every other day/every three days should reduce the nitrate. During these times, cut down on feeding.
No matter how filthy your fiter may be , leave them alone until tank is well stablized once nitrate is at desired level.

Run ammo, nitrite testing regularly to ensure tank is not/has not been disturbed too much with all the changes.

deepmitch

Yes my vacuum looks very much like that one.

Shawnie

100 nitrates? what test kit are you using ? that sounds way off and if it were that high, I doubt anything would be living ..maybe the test kit is giving you false reading...also, test your tap water...if that nitrate isnt coming down fast with water changes, id say you may have nitrate in your tap ..or again a false test kit....goodluck!

deepmitch

I have used strips and liquid test kits both give same reading.
I am going to do another water change soon and will use the vacuum to do so.
Do i push the vacuum through the sand and gravel to the substrate?

Shawnie

I would push it all the way down yes....didnt know the liquid kits went up to 100 ...learn something new everyday!

deepmitch

Ok done water change! will leave for a couple of hours and test again!!
dont like the vacuum. Any good ones out there?

deepmitch

The nitrates are dropping now.
thanks to all for your advice and help.