skip_16157
12-06-2002, 9:07 PM
What makes nitrates high and whats the best ways to lower your levels. Can chemicals work and if you did a partial water change how much water would you change if you had a 55 gal.
Nitrates are created as ammonia and nitrite are broken down by nitrifying bacteria. Water changes will lower nitrate levels. Another way that levels will drop, is if you have either a DSB(Deep Sand Bed) or live rock in your tank. Both of these can harbour denitrifying bacteria which will convert the nitrAte --> nitrIte --> nitrogen gas which will be released into the atmosphere.