water perimeters the norm numbers

[rachelmayt]

Okay what are the normal numbers that we should all look for in our fw tanks?? Especially nitrates.
( I curtently have 0 amonia, 0 nitrites, and 60 nitrates) What should the nitrates be at??? Is this okay or should it be lower? Thanks!!

[msjinkzd]

i like to keep my nitrates under 20

[Star_Rider]

Okay what are the normal numbers that we should all look for in our fw tanks?? Especially nitrates.
( I curtently have 0 amonia, 0 nitrites, and 60 nitrates) What should the nitrates be at??? Is this okay or should it be lower? Thanks!!
part of the reading level for nitrates depends on start level..if you have nitrates at the source take that into consideration..ie 20 ppm reading from source..then 40 ppm may be an acceptable level.

planted tanks may show nearly 0 reading..

[jm1212]

what is your stocking level? 60 is a little high, even if it comes from your tap.

[khombre]

As already stated.. 0ppm ammonia, 0ppm nitrites, 20 ppm nitrates. 40ppm nitrates would be tops. :)

[silentskream]

if i see nitrates higher than 40, its time to do a HUGE water change. (75% or so)

They'd probably be fine with nitrates at 40 for short periods of time, but if you don't do a water change right then, the nitrates keep rising, and i'd much rather not have that problem.

[theotheragentm]

40 PPM is considered high. There is no reason to have nitrates that high, even with a planted tank. 20 PPM is plenty with plants. Some fish that are naturally brackish and adapt well to freshwater, such as Mollies, can't handle the nitrates as high as 40 PPM. The salt is supposed to neutralize the effects of nitrates in the water, but in freshwater they're more sensitive to lower levels of nitrates.

[Star_Rider]

40 PPM is considered high. There is no reason to have nitrates that high, even with a planted tank. 20 PPM is plenty with plants. Some fish that are naturally brackish and adapt well to freshwater, such as Mollies, can't handle the nitrates as high as 40 PPM. The salt is supposed to neutralize the effects of nitrates in the water, but in freshwater they're more sensitive to lower levels of nitrates.

first it is not out of line to have nitrates at 40..if the starting level is 20 from source no amount of water changes will get it below 20.

nitrates when they approach high numbers are a concern but should not be used as a barometer for deciding when to change water. in fact most fish will not have a problem with nitates at 40 ppm

btw, nitrates are more of an issue with marine species than freshwater..the use of live rock, sand and macro algae are there for a purpose..removing nitrates...if you start to hit 10 ppm nitrates there is concern.

[Reddog80p]

Lets all remember that testkits are not all made alike. Ive had my water test for *kicks* and giggles at the lfs. They sometimes get 40 for nitrAte (they use strips).When I had tested the same exact water at home using my Freshwater Master Kit and got a 20 reading.

[rachelmayt]

part of the reading level for nitrates depends on start level..if you have nitrates at the source take that into consideration..ie 20 ppm reading from source..then 40 ppm may be an acceptable level.

planted tanks may show nearly 0 reading..


Thanks I tested my tap water that I use to refill when doing weekly wc. And there are 20 nitrates in my tap. Is this normal?? Anyway thanks, I will take that into consideration when I do my testing.

[silentskream]

it happens.. if you live near a farming area especially.. you could contact your municipal water supplier and tell them your nitrates are high and they might do something about it... but they probably wont.