Water changes in a planted tank...

[ruecole]

My 20g never seems to have nitrates. The most I've ever seen is 5 ppm. I'm still doing 40%-50% (about 9g) water changes every week, but I'm wondering if that's too much?

Thanks!

Rue

[Sasquatch]

Well, planted tanks tend to have lower nitrates than non-planted tanks. The plants take it when they grow.

To be honest, most people would be envious of never exceeding 5ppm nitrates. I don't think that 40-50% per week is too much, when we have the time we try to do as much.

[Incredulous_Ed]

You never have too much water changes.

[CAF]

With heavily planted tanks you do WCs to add nutrients back into the tank if you are not dosing ferts, or to remove excess nutrients if you are. I try to shoot for between 15 and 20 ppm NO3 in my planted tanks as this is the optimum level needed for good growth as long as you have the correct lighting and sufficent CO2.

[ruecole]

That's what I thought, but I wasn't sure if I would be stunting the plants by removing all their nutrients (AKA nitrates).

I'm not using anything special with my plants (just a 15 multi-purpose bulb and no fertilizers or special substrate or anything), yet they're growing like weeds! My ludwegia has put out some massive leaves and the val. spiralis is almost 2 feet long! Even the amazon sword--which I wasn't sure would do well, given my set-up--has doubled in size since I bought it! :19:

I'm assuming, therefore, that they're happily absorbing all the nitrates and that's why my readings are always so low?

Anyway, I'll continue with the water changes as usual.

Thanks, everyone!

Rue

[CAF]

I'm happy to help!!! :hmm3grin2orange: