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Why Are My Nitrate Levels In My Fresh Water Fish Aquarium Always So High?

By on Tuesday, January 11th, 2011 | 4 Comments

I have a 29 gallon freshwater tank with 4 fish equaling about 16 linear inches, the tank is 74 – 78 degrees Fahrenheit. My average readings are; .25ppm Ammonia, 0ppm Nitrite, the Nitrates are always above 50ppm, usually 60, but I’ve measured over 80 more than once. When I started the tank the Ph was very Alkaline, more than 8. I have gotten the ph down to about 7.7, but it took me 8 mounths to do it. So if anyone has an idea about lowering the Nitrates or the Ph(besides changing the water), please let me know what’s good.

High Ammonia Levels In A New Cycling Aquarium?

By on Sunday, November 14th, 2010 | 3 Comments

First off, I have three other established aquariums, so I do have a fairly solid back ground of basic fish keeping. And before you ask, the reason I did not use one of these aquariums to give the new aquarium a jump start is because these aquariums have pest snails that I do NOT want to take a chance of introducing snails to this new aquarium.
I have a 55g Freshwater and I am currently doing a fish-less cycle. About 2 weeks ago I added a product by Nutrafin called Cycle. It says it’s a Biological Aquarium Supplement and claims it “immediately establishes save biological aquarium environment” and “allows immediate introduction of fish” . It has instructions to give X dose per gallon of water for three days.
I followed the directions and did water testing on the third day. I have the API freshwater master test kit (Liquid testing kit). Most of the reading were off and the ammonia levels read high, so I did a 25% water change. This did not lower the ammonia levels. I decided it might have just been a bad ammonia spike, so I let the aquarium run with the filters for another few days. The other reading went to normal, but the ammonia was still high. I tried Jungle ammonia clear tabs, and tetra’s ammonia remover product with a 25% water change. STILL no change in the ammonia reading. Let the aquarium run a few more days hoping it just needed some more time. After about two weeks of the aquarium running and adding the bacteria supplement, I decided to do a 50% water change.
That was a couple days ago. My readings are now:
Ph 7.6
Ammonia .50
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0
I’m just stumped. The water is also a little cloudy… and the ammonia levels have been high even after water changes. And ideas?
I think I’ve been pretty thorough, but if you need more information…. let me know.

High Ammonia Levels In A Newly Cycling Aquarium. Advice?

By on Saturday, November 13th, 2010 | 4 Comments

First off, I have three other established aquariums, so I do have a fairly solid back ground of basic fish keeping. And before you ask, the reason I did not use one of these aquariums to give the new aquarium a jump start is because these aquariums have pest snails that I do NOT want to take a chance of introducing snails to this new aquarium.
I have a 55g Freshwater and I am currently doing a fish-less cycle. About 2 weeks ago I added a product by Nutrafin called Cycle. It says it’s a Biological Aquarium Supplement and claims it “immediately establishes save biological aquarium environment” and “allows immediate introduction of fish” . It has instructions to give X dose per gallon of water for three days.
I followed the directions and did water testing on the third day. I have the API freshwater master test kit (Liquid testing kit). Most of the reading were off and the ammonia levels read high, so I did a 25% water change. This did not lower the ammonia levels. I decided it might have just been a bad ammonia spike, so I let the aquarium run with the filters for another few days. The other reading went to normal, but the ammonia was still high. I tried Jungle ammonia clear tabs, and tetra’s ammonia remover product with a 25% water change. STILL no change in the ammonia reading. Let the aquarium run a few more days hoping it just needed some more time. After about two weeks of the aquarium running and adding the bacteria supplement, I decided to do a 50% water change.
That was a couple days ago. My readings are now:
Ph 7.6
Ammonia .50
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0
I’m just stumped. The water is also a little cloudy… and the ammonia levels have been high even after water changes. And ideas?
I think I’ve been pretty thorough, but if you need more information…. let me know.

Nitrates Still High And I Don’t Know How To Get Them Down Naturally?

By on Sunday, October 31st, 2010 | 5 Comments

I have performed two 25% water changes three days apart, followed by several 10% water changes weekly for the last month. The nitrates have not budged. I have a 60 gallon SW tank with only a green chromis and a yellow tail damsel, also a few hermits inhabit the aquarium and they seem unaffected. I am at a loss as to how these nitrates are so high, they are at nearly 40 ppm. I am not a beginner at this hobby, so just asking this question on here tells you how desperate I am for answers. I need info from someone that has dealt with this situation. I have a canister filter, two power heads, a protein skimmer, and a heater, as the aquarium is filled with live rock and sand. Does anyone have any idea as to how to bring these nitrates down besides using chemicals, I hate to use chemicals, I do not trust them. Any questions about my tank you can feel free to ask, I will give you the info willingly. Just help please:) I have been battling this for some time now.

Help Me With My Aquarium Please! Very High Nitrate Level!?

By on Tuesday, October 19th, 2010 | 4 Comments

Many of my fish have become ill and have been dying lately. Two are now extremely sick and will probably die. I tested the water and found that the nitrate level is above 160 ppm!! I have no idea how to remove the nitrate. I understand that nitrate leaves fish more susceptible to diseases, right? I have a 50 gal. freshwater, tropical community tank. It has about 15 medium and small fish in it. It also has plants, but for some reason they are dying too! I thought that plants use this stuff! And, I’ve noticed a lot of algae growing inside the tank. That’s also an effect of the nitrate level, right?
Please help! I don’t want to lose all of my fish!

Treating Ick With High Temp And Aquarium Salt And Need Support?

By on Monday, September 20th, 2010 | 4 Comments

My fish have ick. I am treating it with higher temperature 82 degrees and just put in 10 tbs of aquarium salt after doing a 25% water change, I have a 50 gal tank. I hear I’m supposed to do this for up to 10 days, but does that mean I do 25% water changes and 10 tbs salt for ten days cause to me it just seems like a lot of salt. I have 1 lg bottom feeder, 2 small albino catfish, another type of catfish. I only have 1 normal fish in there and he so far has ick the worst, my bottom feeder now has the white spots(hes the one that I want to live the most) any idea if I’m doing this right? or any helpful advice would be appreciated.

How much is “high amount of light” for aquarium plants?

By on Friday, September 10th, 2010 | No Comments

Question by Misaki: How much is “high amount of light” for aquarium plants?
For medium to high amounts of plants.. I want to know what exactly it means by high to medium.

I have the fish tank in a place where it can get indirect sunlight from 3 angles. This only applies during the mornings until the afternoon, though. So does high amount of light mean I should keep the lighting IN the tank turned on even when it’s already getting indirect sunlight or do I wait until the indirect sunlight decreases for me to turn on the light just to continue the lighting process?

I was told not to have the lighting IN the tank on for more than 10-12 hours due to algae problems.

I have anubais but they’re not enough to fight off algae so I was thinking of getting a fast rate growing plant. The only problem is they usually require medium to high amounts of light. In this case, how much is “high” (or medium)?

Best answer:

Answer by 130-142 varisty county wrestler
low is 7-10 hours
medium is 10-13 hours
high is 13-16 hours
make sure you have a very strong and bright bulb preferably 6700k.

What do you think? Answer below!

pH level too high in a 20 gallon aquarium?

By on Saturday, July 31st, 2010 | 2 Comments

I have a 20 gallon aquarium. i have one snail, a small ghost knife, 2 small angelfish, a blue ram, and a gourami, there are also alot of live plants in there. I just added my fish today, and my ph is way too high i think. It’s reading over 8.0. about 9 hours ago I used the pH down drops, Waited awhile and checked it again. Still the same. I also tried to use those fizzy Correct pH tablets. checked it a couple hours later, and its still the same. So, now im worried that I’ve messed with the water too much with all this Ph adjuster stuff, and ive done more harm than good. So far, the fish seem to be doing fine. The water they came out of was around a 7.6 ph. Is there anything i can do to safely and slowly bring down the ph? or is it fine? do i just need to leave it alone? oh yeah, i guess i should add, i have plenty of air in my tank, and a great filter, and undergravel filtration. so im not sure what to do?any advice will be appreciated. thank you.
i wasnt asking about my tank size. just my pH issue. my fish are all very small as i stated, and i am aware of how big they get. my knife is about 2 and a half inches. and the angels are a little bigger than a thumb nail. i had a 55 gallon as well with alot more fish and a huge knife and all did fantastic. all i was wondering about was my pH, since i have never had this problem before.
he is a flame dwarf gourami btw

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