How bad are my Nitrate levels?

[gustavo85]

Hi, my nitrate levels are around 15mg/L, does anybody know how bad is this and what could happen (e.g. algae, etc.)?

 

[gustavo85]

Just in case, 15 mg/L is equal to 15 ppm.

 

[Hooked Newbie]

15 PPM isn't bad. I always keep mine under 20, but alot of people go to 40. Without knowing size of tank, stocking, history, other readings etc. it's hard to venture any guesses. The only things that will take care of Nitrates are water changes or plants.

 

[Fordtrannyman]

Since this is in the planted tank section-15ppm is optimal...as long as FE is present too.

 

[gustavo85]

Good, thanks, my tank is 20 GAL High, Heavily planted although I lost all my Elodea densa because of excel and my fish stocking is under this message.

 

[jones57742]

Hi, my nitrate levels are around 15mg/L, does anybody know how bad is this and what could happen (e.g. algae, etc.)?

gustav: Much of my post is partial repetition of previous posts.

Before I got deep into plants I attempted to keep nitrates at less than 20.

Most of the literature indicates with a fairly heavily planted that nitrates between 5 and 10 are appropriate but I do not believe that 15 should be a problem at all.

I attempt to keep my nitrates at approximately 5.

One item to note is that as you have 100's of MTS in a 20G tank you may be overfeeding.

TR