Lower Your Nitrate/Nitrite Levels in Your Fish Tank
Having a problem with high nitrate levels? There are four possible sources of high nitrate levels: infrequent maintenance, overfeeding, crowded tank, or bad water from the tap. Not to worry though - there are several things you can do to lower nitrate levels quickly and safely.
Steps
- Do a 30% water change as soon as possible. In order to maintain a fish tank, you should be doing at least a 25% water change every week. When you do a water change, you are removing nitrate-laden water and replacing it with fresh, nitrate-free water. Leaving this too long will result in a build-up of nitrate that can harm your fish.
- Lower the amount of food you are giving your fish. Remember that a fish's stomach is around the same size as his eye. A little food goes a long way.
- If you are giving fish several different kinds of foods (brine shrimp, blood worms, flakes, etc. ) then make sure the amount is controlled.
- Place the food at feeding times in a place where the fish will actually be able to find and eat it.
- Remove any uneaten food from the tank with a gravel vacuum or clean turkey baster.
- Follow the general rule of thumb, which is to have {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} of adult fish per gallon. Remember that this guideline is only for smaller tropical fish. A 12-inch pleco cannot fit into a {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} tank, and a 10-inch fish has no place in a {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} tank. Use your common sense.
- Test your water source for nitrate directly if after previous steps you still have high levels. If it is high, then find another water source, and do a water change with it.
Tips
- Planted tanks generally have lower nitrate than other tanks. If you have a persistent nitrate problem, you may want to consider planting your tank. Some good plants for absorbing nitrate are duckweed and hygrophila.
- To tell if your tank is overcrowded, the one inch per gallon is a very rough estimate. You need to take into consideration a couple of other factors, like how much waste will the fish produce. Will they get territorial? How big will these fish grow?
- Goldfish require more than one gallon per inch of fish because they produce a lot of waste. A good rule to remember is {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} for the first goldfish, and {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} for each additional goldfish. Single tail goldfish require more space than fancy varieties.
Things You'll Need
- Nitrate test kit
