HELP....Nitrate Problems and Algae
- Thread starter meximan
- Start date
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.
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.
[/FONT][/FONT]Where's nitrate been found in drinking water in California?
[FONT=Arial,Arial][FONT=Arial,Arial]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.
http://www.cdph.ca.gov/certlic/drinkingwater/Pages/Nitrate.aspx
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Odds are the powers that be are already aware of high nitrates, but I'm not sure what can be done about it. You can read what's in your tap water by typing in your zip code here:
http://www.ewg.org/tap-water/whats-in-yourwater
http://www.ewg.org/tap-water/whats-in-yourwater
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.
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.
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.
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.
Neons are also prone to there own little disease, neon tetra disease. I think that using RO water with a discus buffer would be your best bet, or fully plant your 55.
