HELP....Nitrate Problems and Algae

He might not be using it for an infant but if he's on city water or a shared well the people down the street might be. Still needs to be reported and fixed.
 
Reported?...couldn't hurt.

Fixed ?...odds are it won't be and probably can't be.

For the OP....Use a combination of tap and RO for your water changes...but watch where your GH/KH end up...you may have to add back some buffers.
 
If you are on a municipal water supply, I'd check to confirm your test results. As far as reporting a problem, I think many here have confused nitrogen and nitrates. California (and I believe Federal) limits drinking water to a nitrogen content of 10 ppm, this corresponds to a limit of 44 ppm for nitrates, (remember nitrates have 3 oxygen molecules).
 
What is the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for nitrate in drinking water? [FONT=Arial,Arial][FONT=Arial,Arial]The MCLs, in 22 CCR §63341, are 45 milligrams per liter (mg/L) for nitrate as NO3 (equivalent to 10 mg/L for nitrate as nitrogen or "N"); 10 mg/L for nitrate plus nitrite as N; and 1 mg/L for nitrite as N.
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Where's nitrate been found in drinking water in California?​
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Nitrate in drinking water is widespread in numerous areas of the country. About 98% of the population served by all community drinking water systems in California uses drinking water that meets health-based standards.​
Public water systems, because they are regulated by the state (unlike private wells), are required to analyze for nitrates and report the results to CDPH.

http://www.cdph.ca.gov/certlic/drinkingwater/Pages/Nitrate.aspx
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That's very tricky for the OP - I hate Nitrates above 40 ppm and aim for not more than 20, but if your base in the tap water is 40 already...

Your options are :-

1. Water change every couple of days - no fun in a 55 really or with multiple tanks - to keep the Nitrates at or very near your base of 40.

2. Different source of water - in this case bought in from a shop. As bob has suggested, combine store bought with tap for your changes. I would probably try and hit a combination of % water change and % mix of store/tap water to keep things between 20 and 40 all week.
 
you could try an Upflow Algae Scrubber. they seem like they would be fun to make
 
IT sucks that my posts have to be approved everytime i type something on my own thread >.<

But i tried looking up that website for our local water company testing and it only dates to 2009. But even so , It was Over the legal limit for both nitrate and nitrites....zip is 91701

Im going to re test the water right now....Im more surprised with the small 10 gallon Guinie pig tank..I changed 55% of the water yesterday with RO water and figured that should have diluted the PPM for nitrates....Last night after 5 hours of running ect. I couldnt tell the difference if in color...Then again 40ppm and 80ppm look VERY close to the same color to me...Perhaps im going blind...But either way im still not happy with it...I want GREEN atleast.
 
3rd day and waters still around 80ppm.....Im thinking another RO water change in the morning...I have a Neon that is looking like its gonna die, hes not swimming to hot right now
 
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