nitrate question

[samoyedsrule]

I am doing as much research as i can before i get my discus, so i have alot of questions. currently in my freshwater 40 gallon, which houses two marble angels and various other fish, my nitrates at 25. where should nitrates be for discus, i am thinking probably non existant ,right?

[Don Trinko]

I try to keep mine 5 or less but I have had breeder/dealers tell me that 20 is ok. Don T.

[ShinShin]

5 or less seems to be the number most old timers go with. I stick with that. Are you planning on adding discus to the existing set-up?

Mat

[samoyedsrule]

no. i will only keep two clown loaches that i have.

[Apistomaster]

Well, zero nitrates and biological filtration of a closed aquatic system is not possible. That said, lower is always better. I doubt if my water has less than 10 ppm and sometimes double that but that would mean I skipped a water change or two.