I've been changing 10% if the water every 2 weeks and it doesn't seem to be dropping. The water I'm using does not have any nitrates in it, so I know I'm not adding any. I've seen de-nitrat-fiers, but they are very expensive. Is there a cheaper way?
2006-12-22 13:03:50 · 11 answers · asked by Amanda G 2 in Pets ➔ Fish
Do more water changes and run a protien skimmer.
If you don't have live rock, get some and increase the water circulation in the tank.
2006-12-22 13:15:49 · answer #1 · answered by Johnny 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Keep in mind food -> ammonia -> nitrites -> nitrates. So the only way to reduce nitrates is to remove water from the tank. You should be doing a 20% water every week. You just can't avoid doing water changes. You can reduce the buildup of nitrates:
1)Feed less. I you are feeding more than once a day, and more than they can eat in a minute or 2 it's too much. Food = nitrates
2)Bigger tank. The bigger the tank the more water the nitrates have to be diluted by. Of course if you get a big tank and then just add more fish....
3)Plants. In theory plants, and algae absorb nitrates. That said you'll need about 10 times the mass of plant compared to fish. Also you'll need to remove dead leaves, and stem or they decay. decay = nitrates That said plants and algae will help keep them down.
2006-12-23 13:36:15 · answer #2 · answered by Sabersquirrel 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need to figure out what in your tank is raising your nitrates. Is your tank overstocked? Are you using feeder fish or other "live" food? Do you have a dead fish hiding somewhere in there? To find the solution, you need to isolate the problem. Your problem isn't too many nitrates, that is a result of the problem. What are the conditions of your tank: size, occupants, food...
2006-12-22 21:12:00 · answer #3 · answered by talarlo 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Often the filters used on SW tanks are too effective and produce too many nitrates.
The key is lots of live rock and live sand. Both have natural "denitrators" built in to them.
2006-12-22 23:35:43 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Are you vacuuming your gravel? The mulm (rotting food and fish poop) down in there won't come up in a normal water change and will continue to produce more and more toxins as it builds up.
Live plants help too.
Good luck!
2006-12-23 04:09:32 · answer #5 · answered by ceci9293 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
PLANTS!!!!!!!! They absorb nitrates in the water! And by the way, if you have alot of fish they're probably producing alot of poop, and this adds to the nitrate levels. So a plant and a Sucker fish would help you. The sucker fish will eat the poop of the other fish. E-mail me and tell me if this worked. PLZ!!
lilgman424@yahoo.com
~~~~_/^^^^\_ ~~~~~
~~~|\/------->\~~~~~
~~~|/\___))) /~~~
2006-12-23 00:28:37 · answer #6 · answered by lilgman424 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Start doing 10% water changes every 5days-week.
2006-12-22 21:05:47 · answer #7 · answered by lunar_flame 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I have that same problem. I hope people post good answers! My tanks pretty large, so it's easier to control for me.
2006-12-22 21:10:06 · answer #8 · answered by Johnny L 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Set up a refugium and load it with some macro-algae such as chaetomorpha.
2006-12-22 22:53:37 · answer #9 · answered by Kay B 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Just keep doing what you are doing and if that dosent work then you will HALF to get a new filter!
2006-12-22 21:09:35 · answer #10 · answered by missme123 1 · 1⤊ 3⤋