GouramiGirl1221

My 10 gal has FINALLY cycled !!! I have one last (hopefully) newbie question about the cycle though. I know that the only way to remove nitrates from the tank is to do water changes, and they're recommended weekly. I remember reading on here somewhere that when nitrates get to a certain level that they can also become toxic to the fish, and I've looked for the thread and can't find it again. Since the 10 gal is overpopulated awaiting the cycle of my 55 gal, I wanted to make sure the nitrates weren't going to get toxic between water changes, because if they will I have no problem with doing two a week. So at what level to nitrates become dangerous?

pinkfloydpuffer

If I remember right it's at either 30 or 40 PPM

MissMTS

You should try to keep your Nitrates at 20 or below. If your tank isn't overstocked and you do weekly waterchanges and vacuum your tank, you should have no problem keeping them at this level. Congrats on completing your cycle!!!

jdhef

My instruction booklet that came with my API test kit says that nitrates should be kept below 40.

Shawnie

everyone has a comfort zone I think...I work hard to keep my betta's under 10 and my bigger kids under 30...20 is what most reccommend

Lucy

10 is ok with me, 20 makes me nervous.

Shawnie

I use to be really nervous also..but I think we clean TOO MUCH sometimes and to me, thats not good...we get anal sometimes and I just feel relaxed letting them have some type of nitrates and not such a sterile enviroment but thats me

mitch

if you put in some live plants it will help keep the nitrates down