Getting nitrates down

[timfee]

I tested my tap water today and it appears to have 25ppm nitrates so obviously doing water changes will not reduce the nitrates to below this. What can I do to reduce the nitrites in the tank if water changes will not? I believe there are chemicals that you can add to water to do this;are they any good?

[Sharon]

You can use live plants...they will reduce Nitrate levels...:ssmile:

[Mvjnz]

25 ppm isn't particularly high, so unless you keep fish that are very nitrate sensitive like discus or puffers, I wouldn't worry about it.

As mentioned above, live plants use nitrate as a nutrient, and if you put in plenty of fast growing plants you should see a reduction in nitrate in a couple of days.

[Lady Hobbs]

Live plants use nitrates as stated by others but plants also need upgraded lights and most feel a plant subtrate. You can't just stick plants in without having what plants need to survive, as well. That level of nitrate is OK and should be fine anywhere under 40. You could use a nitrate reducer in extreme cases.

[timfee]

Ok thanks. The tank is planted and i'm not getting sensitive fish so it sounds like it should be ok.

[fishbum]

I have the same problem with my tap water.When I first realized there where nitrates in the tap water it really worried me that when I did water changes,I was actually adding nitrates to the tanks.Like others have said, .25ppm isn't bad.My tap water has been as high as 40ppm.This has only seems to happen in the spring if there happens to be a lot of rain.I think it has something to do with run off from all the farm fields in the Midwest.My tanks are now almost all planted,but there are still a few that aren't.Plants will help,but like Hobbs mentioned,unless you have the proper lighting,and research the plants you buy,it may be a waste of money,and you will have decaying plants adding to the nitrate.
When I first discovered the nitrate in my tap I also considered buying bottled water.This is always an option,but over the life of fish,and you life for that matter,is an expensive alternative.
There are nitrate reductors(filters) but they are very expensive.Foster&Smith has one for $329.99! :ssuprised:
Someone also suggested to me having a sump filter and stuffing the sump with live plants.This should also work,but then again you need to have enough room for a sump,and the initial expense of it too.
So here are a few of the options I thought of when I found out I had nitrate in tap water.But when it came down to it,besides planting some of my tanks,which I did because I like the look of them,not because the plants use nitrate,there really is nothing to worry about.I would just do weekly water changes to keep your nitrate levels at .25ppm,and enjoy your aquarium.

[thrakuarium]

If you feel you need to get the nitrates down, nitra-zorb does do that. I used it to fix my 29 gallon when battling a nitrate/nitrite spike born of my unfamiliarity with the cycle.

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I had a suggestion made to me about ammonia in tap water and the same solution could work for you. set a tank up with water to use for water changes with a HOB filter and put the nitrazorb in it. It will remove the nitrate before you add the water to your tank that way. The nitra-zorb is rechargeable as well so the cost isn't too bad over the long run.

[jaysee]

25 ppm isn't particularly high, so unless you keep fish that are very nitrate sensitive like discus or puffers, I wouldn't worry about it.

25 may not be that high, but it's only going to go up from there once it's added to the tank. I would think 40 is just around the corner.

[Wild Turkey]

Live plants use nitrates as stated by others but plants also need upgraded lights and most feel a plant subtrate. You can't just stick plants in without having what plants need to survive, as well. That level of nitrate is OK and should be fine anywhere under 40. You could use a nitrate reducer in extreme cases.

Well put, i agree

[Mvjnz]

25 may not be that high, but it's only going to go up from there once it's added to the tank.

Not really, if you have enough plants nitrates don't go up.

My nitrate is so low it reads as 0 on my test, and it stays that way forever, without water changes. Nitrate only builds up if you don't have any plants that use it.

[jaysee]

You're right - I was thinking about an unplanted tank.