What is a good level for nitrates? I've been doing a lot of w/c's to get the nitrites down but I think it's taking the nitrates down too. Right now they're a little below 5 and they were more between 5-10. So is my level okay under 5?
What level should nitrates be?
- Thread starter karna68
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Hello,karna. Ok...this is my 1st time answering a question, so bare with me.I have seen some of your other postings about your cycling progress,so I would have to ask...is this the 10 gal tank or the 30 ? Are, or were you doing a fishy cycle or a fishless cycle?
after your filter becomes established and cycled, you'll notice 0 ammonia and nitrite (in theory). When they reach 0 your nitrates will start to increase. They are controlled by water changes, and the lower the better. 5-10 is fantastic, but because you still have a high level of nitrite, your readings on nitrate dont really mean a whole lot.
Get the nitrite down, then worry about the nitrate
Get the nitrite down, then worry about the nitrate
Sorry, I keep forgetting to give that information don't I? 
This is the 30g, 4 white clouds, plastic plants. Ammonia is 0 and nitrites are about .25
This is the 30g, 4 white clouds, plastic plants. Ammonia is 0 and nitrites are about .25
Thanks Rallysman, as you see by my above post nitrites are down to .25, going to do a small w/c now to see what happens.
A little over a month. Some fish were lost and I had the water tested last week at the LFS and they said it looked like the tank was cycled so I got 2 more white clouds to put in then in testing the water myself nitrites were still high. They're almost 0 after my w/c just now. The test tube was not the bright blue like 0 is supposed to be but it was a light blue.
Whether you're still cycling a tank or you have an established tank, you should try to keep Nitrates below 20ppm. Anywhere between 0 - 20 would be fine.
The only time you need to worry about having too low a level of nitrates is when you have live plants that use nitrates for food. In this case you would need to keep 5-10 ppm of Nitrate in the tank as a plant food source.
The only time you need to worry about having too low a level of nitrates is when you have live plants that use nitrates for food. In this case you would need to keep 5-10 ppm of Nitrate in the tank as a plant food source.
ALSO:
Obviously if you're cycling the tank fishless you can let nitrates get higher than 20 ppm since no fish would be affected. High nitrates won't affect the cycling process the same way that high ammonia would.
Obviously if you're cycling the tank fishless you can let nitrates get higher than 20 ppm since no fish would be affected. High nitrates won't affect the cycling process the same way that high ammonia would.