What are your nitrate readings?

[Lady Hobbs]

On the average, what do your test kits give you for your nitrate reading?

[Chrona]

15 ppm.

wthw4h4h

[Lady Hobbs]

This is a poll big boy!

[Chrona]

This is a poll big boy!

You were slow to add the poll and I am too quick with the post :P

[Lady Hobbs]

Man, no kidding. I barely had time to rush here, write the title and you were answering!

[Chrona]

My kungfu is strong tonight!

[xoolooxunny]

Used to be 10ppm, but when I added more Co2 my plants started growing more, so now they're 5ppm between water changes. I just voted for 10-20, bc that would be the number had I averaged every test I took!

[sergo]

what are nitrates? can you keep them with tetras and gouramis?

[Lady Hobbs]

LOLOLOL I just knew that was you that registered 0 as well.

[sergo]

LOLOLOL I just knew that was you that registered 0 as well.:ezpi_wink1:

[cocoa_pleco]

my planted tank is low, salt is low, 2g is low, 33g is acceptable, 20g tetra is acceptable

[Lady Hobbs]

What are you talking about.

[sergo]

my planted tank is low, salt is low, 2g is low, 33g is acceptable, 20g tetra is acceptableare you high or something?!

[cocoa_pleco]

My nitrate readings in my tanks. lol

[Lady Hobbs]

I bet you like to stick screwdrivers in a moving fan, don't you?

[cocoa_pleco]

lol, ive wanted to try that. I tried with kleenex once.

[jeffs99dime]

i run at about 0 consistently

[Lady Hobbs]

Nice going. I bet you change out your filters a lot, too? I know I do.

[Sasquatch]

Ours run 5-10 ppm, but I voted 10-20 because they're not 0 and there wasn't anything in between.

We had a bit of a spike when we added the catfish, but we've changed to twice weekly water changes and they stay down.

Having loads of plants in there also helps a lot.thumbs2:

[Lady Hobbs]

Yea, I messed up and should have put in 5-10 as many had to vote higher with my omission.

[Coler]

i added underworld polyfilter to both my internals recently. amongs its claims is that it removes nitrates. since adding my nitrates have not gone above 5ppm (12 malawis in a 180L)

i still change 60% water (30% x 2 weekly) weekly to remove dissolved organic compounds and other waste, but i tend to believe the claim that this stuff does what it says on the tin. It would be silly however to use it as an excuse for not changing water; just nice to know your fish are in pristine conditions - and the main reason i like it is it is an amazing water polisher.

my advice; get some

[Sasquatch]

i added underworld polyfilter

Are your fish daemonic or undead or something else creepy?

I'd have trouble adding something to my aquarium that has such a malevolent name. I wouldn't want my fish to turn on me one day and kill me while I'm sleeping.

It could happen!:wink2:

[Lady Hobbs]

I use filter floss all the time. But I don't like that fluffy stuff Walmarts has. It's just a big gob in the bag and you rip off some. I found it has too much polyester and stuff doesn't stick to it much. I like the poly that is in sheets that you can cut. It stays together and pieces don't get loose in the tank and no bags are needed.

Believe it or not, I often buy a new pillow and use the stuffing from those. Hey, $2.50 for a huge bag of floss instead of $4 for one of those crummy little bags that are like 8oz. I do big water changes, too. Like 50% every week. I will be sooo glad when PetSmart opens in my town so I can actually have a place to go that carries supplies.