I am fairly new to the fish keeping hobby, about 3 months. I currently own a 10 gal tank with 1 red tail shark and 2 brilliant rasboras. Also it has 9 anacharis, 6 water wisteria, and 2 crypts. All of these plants are doing well. The reason I got a tank was to get KuhlI Loaches. But every time I go to my local fish store and they test my water they say that the nitrates are dangerously high and advise me not to buy any more fish at the moment. I have no idea why the nitrates would be high as I feed literally one flake of fish food per day, I change 25% of the water every other day (siphoning the substrate also). I told this to the store and they advised I buy API quick start, which I have used with no success. I use API stress coat plus as water conditioner. And my sink water has no nitrates. I am very confused and this is throwing me off of buying my 220 gallon that I have been thinking about since I got the 10. Thank you in advance for any feedback!
Nitrate Issues
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Dont hesitate getting the 220 theyre much easier to keep because its a larger ecosystem and is less likely to have quick changes in parameters. As for nitrates the only thing I can think of is that since you are overstocked with that red tailed shark, the combined waste allows for high nitrates because of the waste.
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Did they give you the exact nitrate reading? What about ammonia and nitrite? Also, are you vacuuming the substrate at least weekly? What about rinsing your media in removed tank water? Lots of detritus can build up in both places causing high nitrates if you don't clean them regularly.
I would also get your own test kit instead of relying on the store to test for you esp if they use test strips. API Master Test Kit is the one most recommended here.
I wouldn't hesitate going for a bigger tank regardless. An RTS and the rasboras need a 55 gallon minimum.
Did they give you the exact nitrate reading? What about ammonia and nitrite? Also, are you vacuuming the substrate at least weekly? What about rinsing your media in removed tank water? Lots of detritus can build up in both places causing high nitrates if you don't clean them regularly.
I would also get your own test kit instead of relying on the store to test for you esp if they use test strips. API Master Test Kit is the one most recommended here.
I wouldn't hesitate going for a bigger tank regardless. An RTS and the rasboras need a 55 gallon minimum.
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As mentioned above, it's the stock that's creating it. I have one betta in a 5 gallon and feed him once a day, and if I don't do a water change every 3-4 days the nitrates will go 40+.
So they didn't give you the exact nitrate reading? Rather than going by what the store tells you (esp if they used test strips), I'd get your own test kit. If you never rinsed your media before, that could be a contributor.
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Yeah go for it. Then you can move the rts and rasboras over to it. You could even turn your 10 gal into a shrimp tank and sell the baby shrimps for a profit. When you get the new tank id recommend that you consult the forum members about stocking so that you know for sure everything will be good. I did the same thing when I got my 45.
Yes, especially since API Quick Start does nothing to decrease nitrates. It's a bacteria supplement and not even a good one at that. If you haven't used it yet, I would return it and spend your money on the API master test kit.
Edit: Never mind, just re-read and saw you did use the QS. Don't know if you're able to return it now but I wouldn't bother using it anymore.
Edit: Never mind, just re-read and saw you did use the QS. Don't know if you're able to return it now but I wouldn't bother using it anymore.
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Under 40ppm is not too bad. Keeping it under 20 is better. I would test your tap for nitrates to see if any of that is coming from your water source. What's the pH, ammonia and nitrite out of the tank?
The oily film on the surface is most likely from the fish food. If you have enough surface agitation from the filter output, it should break that up easily.
The oily film on the surface is most likely from the fish food. If you have enough surface agitation from the filter output, it should break that up easily.
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I'd do another water change of at least 50%. You should see a decrease esp since you rinsed the media.
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Going from a 10 to a 220 gallon is NOT a good idea. Start small. Work your way up. Learn how to test your own water. Maybe the amount of water changes your doing isn't letting the aquarium cycle properly.
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I think you are just fine making the jump to 220 gallons from the 10.
Just practice practice practice with this 10, become an expert on all the ins and outs and then upgrade!
I actually feel larger tanks are easier to maintain. Water quality is easier to maintain anyway. Although, I have never had a tank bigger than 75 gallons. I'm jealous! I'd love to go that huge!
And even if the frequent water changes are slowing down your cycle....So what? Because they are necessary since you have fish in there.
Good luck with everything. You are getting some great advice. Fishlore is a great community and you won't regret joining!!
Just practice practice practice with this 10, become an expert on all the ins and outs and then upgrade!
I actually feel larger tanks are easier to maintain. Water quality is easier to maintain anyway. Although, I have never had a tank bigger than 75 gallons. I'm jealous! I'd love to go that huge!
And even if the frequent water changes are slowing down your cycle....So what? Because they are necessary since you have fish in there.
Good luck with everything. You are getting some great advice. Fishlore is a great community and you won't regret joining!!
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Kind of hard to tell from the picture but I think your nitrates are even lower. Somewhere around 10ppm.
Can you post a picture of the nitrite vial? 0.3 is a weird result.
And I'm with bizaliz, larger tanks are easier to maintain. You have more volume to dilute the wastes and take a bit more effort to overstock! On the other hand, I would have said the same thing about big tanks being harder when I started out, too. Once you get the basics you just have to scale up your water changes
Can you post a picture of the nitrite vial? 0.3 is a weird result.
And I'm with bizaliz, larger tanks are easier to maintain. You have more volume to dilute the wastes and take a bit more effort to overstock! On the other hand, I would have said the same thing about big tanks being harder when I started out, too. Once you get the basics you just have to scale up your water changes
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When I built my 55 gallon tank I was struggling for the first 4 months controlling Nitrates and Nitrites. Ammonia was always fine. The solution for me was dumping the original canister filter media - replaced the OEM biomedia with something more effective, replaced an entire tray of carbon with Seachem Matrix, and replaced the 2nd tray of carbon with Seachem Purigen. 3 days later...Yes only 3 days later the Nitrates and Nitrates dropped to safe levels (almost 0) and have remained there since.
I have never had any luck with Carbon despite changing it each month. Good by and good riddance.
I have never had any luck with Carbon despite changing it each month. Good by and good riddance.
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Agreed I think I might get a sponge filter instead of my current one
Small price to have paid since the tank wasn't cycling with the OEM cheap garbage anyhow. I used Seachem Stability to help accelerate growth.
Today everything is perfect and the lessoned learned was media quality does matter, I found out the hard way.
Random Great Topic!
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