New tank, nitrate reading should be...?

Hey guys, I got my friend a fish tank for her birthday, I was just wondering what the minimum nitrate reading should be, as she rinsed the gravel and sponge filter, UNDER THE TAP!!! jawdrop: I'm guessing all the g ood bacteria would be gone, so maybe I'll just give her some of my gravel to help the cycle along, but yes what should the nitrate reading be? I haven't got ammonia or nitrite test kits, which is why I'm not asking for what the levels should be. But that is 0 anyway right? Thankyou for your time!!

 

Yes, in a completely cycled tank, ammonia and nitrite will be 0. But again, that is a completely cycled tank. Make sure your friend knows about the nitrogen cycle.

Now to answer your question. Most people agree that nitrate should be between 20 ppm and 40 ppm. Anything higher and there needs to be a water change. A lot of people even go further and try to keep their nitrate between the 5-20 ppm range. My nitrates seem to always be around the 20 ppm and higher, but as soon as they get past that 40 ppm, I quickly do water change. I usually have to do water changes about 2, maybe 3 times per month. But each case is different. Many fishkeepers do water changes 1 per week.

Hope this helps.

 

Thank your help! So would a reading of 5-40 ppm of nitrate be ok for the fish??

 

40 scares me. lol Others disagree that 40 is too high.
I prefer to keep mine under 20.

 

My nitrate levels usually falls under 5ppm and usually like to keep mine under 20ppm, I have a lot of plants in my tank.

If you do weekly water changes, I think you shouldn't have a problem with nitrates being high.

 

I also like mine under 20, I do a 15 gallon water change everyweek for my 46g tank, just get into the routine and everything should be fine.

 

I never let my nitrates go over 20 PPM. To do this I need to do weekly water changes. I change 30-50% weekly. With my fish if the nitrates go much higher my angels develop fin rot.

Small price to pay for a healthy, thriving tank.

 

My tank has only been cycled for about 3 + weeks. In that time, I have done 2 water changes - when the nitrates have gone up to 20ppm. But I have also added new fish and changed hob/filters in that time. I haven't done a water change in about a week and so far, the nitrates have been steady around 10ppm. Again, I keep an eye on it and when it hits around 20, I do a 25% water change.