Nitrates

[Mongrel]

What is the average ppm that would be considered normal when talking about Nitrates?

[Bobs]

I try to keep mine uner 20 ppm.

[JSchmidt]

It depends... nitrates are generally much lower in planted tanks (in fact, some aquarists have to add nitrogen to planted tanks) than in fish only tanks. Some fish, like cichlids, tend to be high waste producers which makes it very difficult to keep nitrates low. Also, the level of nitrates out of the tap has a big influence; ours regularly exceeds 20 ppm.

In my cichlid tanks, I'm doing great if I can keep nitrates below 40 or 50 ppm. In other FW tanks, I shoot for 20-30 ppm. All tanks unplanted...

HTH,
Jim

[StevieM]

If you do frequent water changes, say 2 times a week on a planted tank.....is it possible to get very low Nitrates?? almost non-existant? Did I answer my own question??:p

steve

[Tom.E]

0-0-0 nitrogen readings from hobby test kits are not uncommon in heavily planted tanks. Plants slurp ammonia right up.



Tom

[jafo]

Tom is right on the money. I have to add nitrates in my planted tanks to get a reading. I still change water once a week just to give the fish some fresh.

[JamisonBWolsh]

Here is an article on the subject, is mostly for saltwater...but can be used for freshwater as well.... (saltwater is much more concerned for nitrates then freshwater)

I have 80ppm i think. Am I worried ...no... It really is a myth spread by LFS and the test kit companies. Its always better to have it lowered, but high nitrates is not all that bad. Its mainly a "warning sign" that shows some undesirables are also at high levels. NITRATES is NOT TOXIC.. read the article...

http://saltaquarium.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.marine-monsters.com%2Ffront%2Farticles.html%23nitrates

Also check this link (the first paragraph and last paragraph)

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/nitratesmar.htm

AND freshwater is alot more LAX than Saltwater. Which means that FW can tolerate alot more nitrates than SW

[JamisonBWolsh]

Dont get me wrong. 0ppm is the best and you should shoot for between 0ppm-40ppm

[RTR]

" NITRATES is NOT TOXIC.. " is poor grammar and incorrect.

Nitrate is toxic for fish, just much less so than ammonia or nitrites. Short-term toxicity (as is considered for ammonia and nitite) is 100-200+ ppm, but is higly dependent on the particular fish being tested, and likely also variable with the water parameters. Long-term toxicity is generally down to or below half the short-term level for any particular fish, so in broadest terms, 50-100 ppm, but any particular type of fish may be within that range, or more sensitive or less sensitive. You cannot generalize for all fish, there is too great a variability from species to species. As with humans, there is also an age factor. Results of long-term toxicity include depressed immune systems, reduced fertility, poor coloring, reduced activity - i.e., a general reduction in health and vigor.

But you are correct that for hobbyists, nitrate is best used as indicator - that if nitrate is accumulating, so are phenols, pheromones/hormones, all the general DOC and the inorganics which are not readily measured and which are also undesirable in fish tanks. Nitrate level in FO tanks is an indicator of the general pollution level in the water. React or not to that indicator as you chose, but it is real and valid. Calling nitrate concern a myth and marketing gimmick reflects a lack of both knowledge and understanding on the part of the person so stating.

[slipknottin]

its also harmful to many of the snails/shrimps and other inverts that many of us keep. It has been evidenced that high levels of nitrates prevent them from shedding their exoskeletons, which will lead to sudden unexplained death.

[JamisonBWolsh]

Originally posted by RTR
" NITRATES is NOT TOXIC.. " is poor grammar and incorrect.



1.) I didnt know I was writing a english paper? If i misspell a word or have a run-on sentence. Whats the big deal?

Anyway, here is my sentence in its context:

Its always better to have it lowered, but high nitrates is not all that bad. Its mainly a "warning sign" that shows some undesirables are also at high levels. NITRATES is NOT TOXIC.. read the article...

Here is a sentence from that article.

I will start by stating one simple fact, nitrates are not particularly toxic.

So am I INCORRECT ..no..is my grammar wrong...YES..I should have said "are" instead of "is". Sorry English Teacher. Never knew it was SO IMPORTANT!!!
Also, my opinions were Based on those 2 articles listed previously

[carpguy]

The grammar and spelling isn't really a big deal, but it does make it a lot easier to understand a post. Sum of the. RANDOM fratcuered b carelsssly written. Stuff can be a little hard to decipher. Its sort of a sign of respect for the others on the board when you make the extra effort.

Neither article says that nitrates aren't toxic. The one that says "nitrates are not particularly toxic! " also says "a planehead filefish, reached 50% mortality at 500mg/l the low for marine fishes." Anything that can kill half the fish in the tank is toxic. The same article mentions elevated levels being ok for a short period (suggesting they'd be less good for a longer period). Both articles recommend keeping nitrates below 40 ppm for Marine FO tanks, lower still if there are invertabrates around. Neither article mentions freshwater.

Other sources I've seen, specifically talking about freshwater, suggest keeping nitrates below 40-50 ppm. They generally say things like "Nitrate is toxic for fish, just much less so than ammonia or nitrites" and "for hobbyists, nitrate is best used as indicator - that if nitrate is accumulating, so are phenols, pheromones/hormones, all the general DOC and the inorganics which are not readily measured and which are also undesirable in fish tanks. Nitrate level in FO tanks is an indicator of the general pollution level in the water".

[Sumpin'fishy]

Uh-huh! ditto that!

[Sumpin'fishy]

I think this whole forum is geared toward getting people to take better care of their fish, not slack off just cause it doesn't kill them.

[slipknottin]

Personally, i found it amusing how both articles say "nitrates arent particularly toxic" yet then spend an entire page talking about how to lower it. :)


Constant medium to high levels of nitrates ARE toxic. Both links previously provided verify that. Short term exposure is less so, much like exposure to ammonia at low levels isnt all that toxic. After all, most fish we have would be more likely to have ammonia in their water in nature than nitrates.