cousinav

I just checked the tank which is about 2 days overdue for a water change. The nitrates test showed blood red. I think it's 80, but it may be higher. Besides the water change, is there anything else I can/should do? Ammonia and nitrites are both zero.

Chief_waterchanger

What is your water change schedule?

I would do TWO 50% waterchanges today and test tomorrow to see how that helped.

(Don't do ONE 100%, but rather 50% and refill and 50% and refill.)

cousinav

I change about 25-30% once a week. I did one 50% water change this evening. I'll do another one in the morning and test tomorrow evening. Thanks.

Chief_waterchanger

The other option, since the waterchange schedule seems normal, is that you are probably overfeeding the tank. The decaying food has the same effect on the water quality that the fish's waste does, just bypassing the fish's digestion tract step of the process.

I would cut back on how much I feed the fish in that tank. Try to remember that with neon tetras their stomach is about the size of their eyeball and feeding once or twice a day is alright, but just VERY tiny amounts.

Hope that helps your situation.

Tsunami35

Some live plants would help with nitrate problems, Ive never had readings above 5-10ppm, maybe some java moss?

pepetj

Hi cousinav.
In order to help keep nitrates in check, you could add a few bundles of Anacharis in the rear side or around a corner, all you need is a rubber band and a mid-size stone to keep them in place. These fast growing, easy to care for, low light plants, work great in my 10gal tank -which by the way is temporarily overstocked. My nitrates readings remain in the range of 10 to 25ppm, with weekly, 30%, water changes.

Pepe
Santo Domingo