How do i lower my nitrates?

The guy at the fish store told me to use distilled instead of tap water.
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He doesn't have a clue... distilled water is one of the worst things you can add to your tank because, as already stated, it is litterally just water... nothing else. You shouldn't even drink distilled water.

Your tank is overstocked already, so not to be negative, but if you had plecos it's a good thing you don't anymore (fish commonly sold as "algae eaters" in pet stores are common plecos which stop eating algae when they get 5-6'' and also grow, easily, over 14'').

Rainbow sharks don't usually tolerate one another as adults, and you could, very soon and easily, end up with 1 or two dead sharks.
 
If the water is so much of a problem, why doesnt it affect any of hte other fish
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Frankly I couldnt tell you off the top of my head which "algea eater" gets how big, or the dangers of distilled water. I'd have to :read:
BUT Two things I can tell you from personal experience.

1) Even what register as tiny amounts of ammonia or nitrite in the water damage fish. The effects may take a while to be visible, but they will happen. You Do have a lot of fish in there so, I would expect you would need to do alot of water changes to keep the levels at zero. But that's where it needs to be.

2) Pet store (even 'fish store') employees give wrong information more often than right information! I know its hard to believe, but that is what I have found. Check what they say against other sources, (I know it can be frustrating) but unless you are lucky enough to find one who is verifiably accurate a few times in a row. And Occassionally says "i don't know" then IMO dont even bother asking them for advise.
The info in this forum isn't guaranteed, of course. On some matters you will find varying oppinions.
But I have found that there are some Very knowledgable folks here. Experienced fishkepers, some quite educated on a particular aspect of the hobby. No one is trying to sell you anything, just to share information and experience. I have found it very helpful. :dance:
I'd say, keep learning, and have fun.
PS, I wonder if your fish seem to be breathing fast?
~ zazz
PPS since Easter isn't All that long. If what you are hearing here is true, which i beleive it is, I'd worry that you will start to have problems (like opportunistic infections, :sick: and fish on fish aggression :sad: ,) a little way down the road. I hope not, and I hope you keep trying to figure out whats best for your fish. :hang: Here and/or elsewhere.
Oh my goodness one more thing. A little plant life should help keep the nitrates down, just don't let that fool you into thinking you ca do fewer water changes. Sorry to be so long winded. i think I'm done now :)
 
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PumaWard said:
He doesn't have a clue... distilled water is one of the worst things you can add to your tank because, as already stated, it is litterally just water... nothing else. You shouldn't even drink distilled water.

Your tank is overstocked already, so not to be negative, but if you had plecos it's a good thing you don't anymore (fish commonly sold as "algae eaters" in pet stores are common plecos which stop eating algae when they get 5-6'' and also grow, easily, over 14'').

Rainbow sharks don't usually tolerate one another as adults, and you could, very soon and easily, end up with 1 or two dead sharks.
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Some distilled water is fine its pure (boiled or rainwater is distilled) just as long as your not always useing it ,so kay to add some now & then has no chorene or chloramine no parasites or bacteria yadda yadda sall good
 
Distilled water, RO water, or water taken from dehumidifiers ( a notch better than RO but not quite distilled) is fine to add to a feshwater tanks provided it's mixed within reason with regular water as a buffer. 15ppm of Nitrogen is not high for a community tank.

To the topic at hand, your common jouvenille Trinidad Pleco is not a very hardy fish in my experience when acclimating to a new tank. My suspicion is they have been so heavily farm raised they don't know what to eat in a new tank, and starve.

I've also seen plecos the size of steelhead trout in tanks so neglected a nitrate test strip would catch fire. I honestly don't think this fish is fussy about nitrate given the nasty tanks I've found them in.

Otherwise, I don't undestand the attraction to the common brown trinidad pleco. They don't eat nuisance algae like bryopsis , they grow large and get territorial, and they're ugly as hell. There are varities that are attractive, but they tend to be expensive.

About the only thing good about the trinidad pleco is once they get larger and established, they're about the only fish that can survive in African Chiclid tanks because of their thick armor. They take a beating, but seem no worse for wear.
 
& how do you get new plants with a growing pleco ,they are way too rough on substrate they swim around clubsily like drunks bumping into stuff without regard & will dog up tender shoots. they grow too fast & generaly look like dirt .Ive seen some nice ones but puppys that grow over 100lbs are cute too
 
rainwater may be "distilled" or mineral-free, but it absorbs so much crap on the way down that i wouldn't ever add it to my tanks.
 
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