Gah!!! Nitrate Problems!

[Bill M.]

So I did a water chem test today, and my nitrates in my 10 gallon are at 40. I did a 30% water change, and added a few tsps of Stress Zyme, along with a tsp of freshwater salt. Any other ways to get nitrates down? The tank is moderatly planted with real plants! In the tank are 2 black skirt tetras, 2 serpae tetras, 2 neon tetras a pleco a guppy, and a gourami....

[cocoa_pleco]

just do a crapload of water changes. before you add salt, make sure your fish are compatable with it. scaleless fish like catfish and corys and neons cant take salt

[Drumachine09]

Depending on how many plants you have, and if you are doing weekly water changes, you should be seeing them THAT high.

[zackish]

40 really isn't that high and like druma said that is about when you should change your water.

Also, why did you add stress zyme? If anything you should have added Stress Coat.

[cocoa_pleco]

that too. stress zyme is just bacteria that eats ammonia

[Drumachine09]

that too. stress zyme is just bacteria that eats ammonia

There is no bacteria in stress zyme. It is not refridgerated.

40ppm is actually pretty high, as far as nitrates go.

[Bill M.]

Ah, good call there. I guess I should have added stress coat...I have 2 large bushels of frill plants and 2 large bushels of cambomba plants... each with stalks up to 16 inches each... so I have plenty of plants.... should the weekly water changes as well as the plants take care of them??

[Drumachine09]

Ah, good call there. I guess I should have added stress coat...I have 2 large bushels of frill plants and 2 large bushels of cambomba plants... each with stalks up to 16 inches each... so I have plenty of plants.... should the weekly water changes as well as the plants take care of them??



Yeah. You want to change out as much water as you can. Most do 25%-50%.

[zackish]

Yeah. You want to change out as much water as you can. Most do 25%-50%.

Just a quick add to changing water. I assume you have enough common sense to realize this but make sure the water you plan on adding to the tank is around the same current temp. of the tank.

[Bill M.]

Just a quick add to changing water. I assume you have enough common sense to realize this but make sure the water you plan on adding to the tank is around the same current temp. of the tank.

Haha... I am not that much of a noob to fish... at most it is - one degree....

[RobbieG]

It also doesn't hurt to check your tap water just to be sure there's nothing odd in it. There are some folks here that have found ammonia or nitrate etc. in the water coming right out of their tap.