what should the nitrate level in my fresh water fish tank?

Answer 1

If your tank is "working" then the levels will be below the usual testkits' sensitivity. What is acceptable? Less than 10-20 ppm. Most aquatic plants start needing a lot more light to be able to photosynthesize in high nitrates environment. Some plants (Water Hyacinth, Bacopa, duckweed) do well in high
nitrate environment
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Answer 2

While nitrates are not as harmful to the well being of a tank's inhabitants an excess is a low level stressor that is easy to remedy by waterchanges. I know people that do enough waterchanges to keep the nitrates below 20ppm and even some that aim to have below 10ppm right after waterchange.

Now you may have some Nitrates in your water supply that mean you can't keep the levels as low as those people. If you start with 20ppm in your tap the best you may be able to do is keep the levels from going over double that amount especially if you don't have any plants.

There are a few ways of useing plants to remove nitrates from the water. Some use houseplants that can grow with the roots submerged to allow them to pull nutrients like Nitrate out of the water. Other methods include growing aquatic plants, but these mean you may need more lighting over the tank than what is needed for fish only.

Answer 3

Nitrates (not Nitrites) should stay around 20-40PPM once the tank has matured and been cycled for a while. If you do not have live plants in your aquarium - I would recommend doing some research and considering going that way (as plants will feed off of the Nitrate levels).

The Nitrates are the least dangerous of the Nitrogen cycle, but if in excess they can spur Algae blooms and even stress you fish out. Regular water changes should also be part of your routine by this point.

Here's a couple of sites to get you geeked up about aquatic plant keeping for your tank...

Plant Geek Dot Net
http://www.plantgeek.net

Planted Tank Dot Net
http://www.plantedtank.net

Best wishes and good luck!

Answer 4

Nitrate if something ought to be 0 or low often. You by no skill prefer to actual strengthen it. Nitrate is a results of the waste. It is going from ammonia from the fish, to nitrite, to nitrate. Nitrates are faraway from the tank by regularly occurring water adjustments. because it rather is, you're high quality.

Answer 5

Nitrates harm different fish at different levels. 40ppm is generally regared as safe for almost all tropical fish.

Some fish types like Discus, Angel fish, and Oscars prefer to have it under 40pm or hole-in-the-head can occur. Gourami's, barbs, goldfish, and most bottom dwelling fishes such as loaches and eels prefer it under 60ppm. Some african cichlids and danio's can tolorate 140+ppm with no adverse affect. If is better you find out what type of fish you want to keep and know their tolerances and then try to maintain that environmental balance for them.


On a last note, high nitrate levels will turn to Nitric Acid which will cause lowered PH and also burn scars along the head and lateral line of sensitive tissue fishes.

Answer 6

Unless you've got live plants you should try for undetectable levels. Some types of fish can take more than other. Generally less than 20 ppm is okay, and 50 ppm is asking for green water, and fish death.

Answer 7

You should definately change your water on a weekly basis, this will ensure a healthy enviroment for your fish.