Would you change this water?

[Krstnzz]

We have a Betta, nerite snail and some hitchhiker ramshorn snails. I've been obsessively testing the nitrates and I feel like I don't know at what point to change it. It still looks very close to 20 maybe even starting to go more red almost to me in person but I find 10 and 20 look very similar to me. There are plants in the tank as well so I've heard it's good for them to have the nitrates but I don't want our Betta or snails to suffer either. Should I change the water or continue to wait? I need to trim the floating plants roots lol. Thanks in advance!!

It's a 10g heated, filtered, planted, cycled tank too in case that matters!

 

[Leeman75]

Let's say it's 15 and call it a day! I think with the type of plants that you have in there, that's a healthy nitrate level so as not to starve them. Just my opinion. It's a nice looking tank, though!

 

[Fishfur]

I’m a little surprised you get that high with nitrates with those floaters and the other plants. How often do you usually change the water and how much at a time?

 

[tetraguy]

Beautiful setup! I agree with Leeman with all those plants that's a health place to be.

 

[Krstnzz]

Let's say it's 15 and call it a day! I think with the type of plants that you have in there, that's a healthy nitrate level so as not to starve them. Just my opinion. It's a nice looking tank, though!

Thank you very much!! I am most worried about our Betta and scared to push it as he is still healing up from fin rot that happened when we were doing a fish in cycle before we realized how wrong we were doing things in a smaller tank when we first got him. Just don't want that to happen to him again! Thanks so much for your response!

I’m a little surprised you get that high with nitrates with those floaters and the other plants. How often do you usually change the water and how much at a time?

It has been a week since I last changed it! I am kind of just testing it every day and go based on the rest results for timing wise, normally I'd say I do at least 25% when I do! Thank you for taking the time to respond!

Beautiful setup! I agree with Leeman with all those plants that's a health place to be.

Thanks so much! I am proud of it for it being such a new hobby to us!

 

[Littlebudda]

I think that’s fine I have one of my planted tanks that I can’t get nitrates below 60 and are usually around 80 I do 50% twice a week and they don’t come down but fish seem ok and plants are growing great.

 

[Fishfur]

You might try changing half the water weekly instead. I usually change half the volume for all my fish tanks unless there’s some compelling reason not to.

Is that water lettuce on the left there, floating?

You might do better with frogbit in terms of taking up nitrates, just a thought though.

 

[Krstnzz]

I think that’s fine I have one of my planted tanks that I can’t get nitrates below 60 and are usually around 80 I do 50% twice a week and they don’t come down but fish seem ok and plants are growing great.

Oh wow! I thought anything over 20 was not okay so once again my brain is confused about cycling lol. Thank you!!

You might try changing half the water weekly instead. I usually change half the volume for all my fish tanks unless there’s some compelling reason not to.

Is that water lettuce on the left there, floating?

You might do better with frogbit in terms of taking up nitrates, just a thought though.

I definitely could do that I was just worried about overdoing it and taking the nitrates from the plants, yes it is water lettuce! I like the look of frogbit so I definitely could swap that out or add some of it ☺️. Thanks!

 

[Littlebudda]

Oh wow! I thought anything over 20 was not okay so once again my brain is confused about cycling lol. Thank you!

That’s what they say but the best thing is to monitor your fish, I’m not sure why I can’t get them down in that tank but I can’t
This was 2 weeks ago those plants are now at the surface so I get crazy growth but can’t get the nitrates down.

 

[Krstnzz]

That’s what they say but the best thing is to monitor your fish, I’m not sure why I can’t get them down in that tank but I can’tView attachment 885407
This was 2 weeks ago those plants are now at the surface so I get crazy growth but can’t get the nitrates down.

Wow they must love that then!! Love the look of that tank!

 

[Littlebudda]

Wow they must love that then!! Love the look of that tank!

Thanks I find a 55 is a really good size to aquascape not to small so you get cramped but big enough so you can put a few features in to make it interesting. I love my 330 but it feels like your forever trying to fill up the scape

 

[Krstnzz]

Thanks I find a 55 is a really good size to aquascape not to small so you get cramped but big enough so you can put a few features in to make it interesting. I love my 330 but it feels like your forever trying to fill up the scape

That sounds awesome!! Our biggest at this point is this 10g and I feel like it's super cramped and I need to remove some things lol. We have a 20g as well just haven't started it yet but it's tall instead of long so I feel like it will feel the same when we get started.

 

[Littlebudda]

That sounds awesome!! Our biggest at this point is this 10g and I feel like it's super cramped and I need to remove some things lol. We have a 20g as well just haven't started it yet but it's tall instead of long so I feel like it will feel the same when we get started.

It all starts small and then you keep going, this is a link to my YouTube page you can see some videos of the big tank.
https://youtube.com/@littlebudda2485

 

[Krstnzz]

It all starts small and then you keep going, this is a link to my YouTube page you can see some videos of the big tank.
https://youtube.com/@littlebudda2485

I definitely will, thanks for sharing!!

 

[ProudPapa]

I'm late to the party, but I believe fresh water has other benefits besides lowering nitrates when it gets too high. I try to change 25 - 30% every week or ten days so there's fresh water in the tank, and add fertilizer if needed to bring the nitrates up to around 20ppm for the plants.

 

[Krstnzz]

I'm late to the party, but I believe fresh water has other benefits besides lowering nitrates when it gets too high. I try to change 25 - 30% every week or ten days so there's fresh water in the tank, and add fertilizer if needed to bring the nitrates up to around 20ppm for the plants.

That's good to know, thank you! I will do that!