remove nitrate??

[Faydra]

Hi Folks!

I am wondering how I can remove Nitate from my discus tank. I noticed a slightly elevated reading (20ppm) the day before yesterday and I've done a thorough cleaning and have been changing 50-60% of the water everyday but it still seems to creep back up by the next day.

I have two huge sponge filters as well as a canister filter and only six 3-4" discus in a BB 55gal. I have noticed a slump in their appetites and they are also a little skittish. Other than that, nothing alarming - still bright colors and moving around the tank nicely.

Is it possible to get (and keep) an aquarium at 0ppm for nitrate or is that just crazy talk??

Thanks in advance!

[Scribbles]

Have you checked your tap water for mitrates? If the canister is well established it may need cleaning. If you are feeding heavily for growth the youngsters may be putting out alot of waste or possibly leaving uneatten food. I would change more water on a daily basis.

Chris

[Eddie]

As Chris said, check for nitrates in your tap. Otherwise, just do bigger water changes daily.

[Faydra]

Have you checked your tap water for mitrates? If the canister is well established it may need cleaning. If you are feeding heavily for growth the youngsters may be putting out alot of waste or possibly leaving uneatten food. I would change more water on a daily basis.

Chris

Sorry, I forgot to mention but yes, I checked my tap water and it shows zero nitrates.

I did a thorough cleaning yesterday including the canister filter. I took it apart, rinsed everything in a bucket of tank water, replaced some of the bacteria spheres as well as 60% of the water. I honestly thought that would clear it up but sure enough today the reading is back to 20ppm.

I was definetly feeding alot as they have always been heavy eaters but I cut back significantly as soon as I noticed their appetites decreasing.

If the water changes continue to not work, what else can I do??

[2wheelsx2]

One thing you can do is ensure that your kit is reading properly. Do a reading before the water change and then after the water change. If you are at 20 ppm before the water change and you do a 60% water change, immediately after the water change, you should be at 8 ppm. If not, there is something wrong with you kit (probably your kit can't be that accurate and will show 10, but that should be close enough). And then if you take a reading the next day see if it's again at 20. If so, you're gaining 12 ppm a day, which doesn't sound reasonable to me for just 6 x 4" fish in a 55 gallon unless there is tons of leftover food in the tank.

[Faydra]

One thing you can do is ensure that your kit is reading properly. Do a reading before the water change and then after the water change. If you are at 20 ppm before the water change and you do a 60% water change, immediately after the water change, you should be at 8 ppm. If not, there is something wrong with you kit (probably your kit can't be that accurate and will show 10, but that should be close enough). And then if you take a reading the next day see if it's again at 20. If so, you're gaining 12 ppm a day, which doesn't sound reasonable to me for just 6 x 4" fish in a 55 gallon unless there is tons of leftover food in the tank.

I have actually done this! The kit is good - my nitrate reading went right down after I did my wc.

It's a brain teaser! Other than my fish I have two silk plants, a breeding cone, two sponge filters and nothing else. I use a turkey baster several times thru out the day when I notice any fresh "deposits" so they are not even in the tank long enough to pollute it. I feel like I'm taking crazy pills.....

[Eddie]

I have actually done this! The kit is good - my nitrate reading went right down after I did my wc.

It's a brain teaser! Other than my fish I have two silk plants, a breeding cone, two sponge filters and nothing else. I use a turkey baster several times thru out the day when I notice any fresh "deposits" so they are not even in the tank long enough to pollute it. I feel like I'm taking crazy pills.....

Thats crazy, so you dont even have a substrate in the tank? Its bare bottom?

[Faydra]

Thats crazy, so you dont even have a substrate in the tank? Its bare bottom?

I have some slate tiles in the bottom of the tank but I lift them out everytime I do my wc and syphon the glass underneath.

I tried to go BB but my fish absolutely freaked out. The reflection or something made them so skittish they just hid in a corner and when someone would walk past the tank they would swim frantically and smash into the glass. Someone on SD recommended the tiles and as soon as I put them in, it was like I had six different fish!

[Eddie]

I have some slate tiles in the bottom of the tank but I lift them out everytime I do my wc and syphon the glass underneath.

I tried to go BB but my fish absolutely freaked out. The reflection or something made them so skittish they just hid in a corner and when someone would walk past the tank they would swim frantically and smash into the glass. Someone on SD recommended the tiles and as soon as I put them in, it was like I had six different fish!

Yup, thats wierd. I'd just keep busting out water changes then.

[diveshooter]

You could try putting zeolite in your canister filter, it might keep the nitrate level down. What kind of water conditioner are you using? That could be giving you false readings.

[Altum Nut]

I would lose the slate tiles and go from their.
W/C...W/C...W/C

...Ralph

[nc0gnet0]

zeolite will do nothing for nitrites......ammonia yes.

[diveshooter]

zeolite will do nothing for nitrites......ammonia yes.

The problem is nitrate, not nitrite and I believe zeolite absorbs all nitrogenous wastes.

[ExReefer]

I didn’t hear anything about the condition of your discus. If they are eating well and you’re seeing growth, keep doing what you’re doing. If you’re still concerned, throw in some live plants. Water sprite or wisteria both love to suck up nitrates. You may need stronger lighting though.

[Eddie]

I didn’t hear anything about the condition of your discus. If they are eating well and you’re seeing growth, keep doing what you’re doing. If you’re still concerned, throw in some live plants. Water sprite or wisteria both love to suck up nitrates. You may need stronger lighting though.

If you re-read the second paragraph in the first post.

I have two huge sponge filters as well as a canister filter and only six 3-4" discus in a BB 55gal. I have noticed a slump in their appetites and they are also a little skittish. Other than that, nothing alarming - still bright colors and moving around the tank nicely.