My nitrates are a little high.

K

kcress

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Apr 9, 2005
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Not wanting to hack up journey0820's Nitrate Thread - I'm started this one in response to ReefScape's murderous personal attack. :eek::grinyes::grinyes:

See:
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=152532


Anyway while low, very low, really super low, and non existing nitrates are good I was making the point that higher ones are not as bad as they are made out to be... Noting that mine are really, super deluxe, excessively high, and my three chained tanks are fine. I do have lots, and lots of algae. In large part due to 16 hrs of lighting, high nitrates, and low flow,(though I do have occasional waves).

Anyway here's my nitrate test results from a few moments ago.

It should be noted the top color key is 175ppm.

The instructions admonish that you must multiply the reading by 2x if it is a test of saltwater.

Call nitrates 200ppm(?) x 2 = 400ppm?

Nitrates.JPG
 
Holy cow maloney. Can you tells us what you have in the tank that is surviving (and perhaps contributing) to that nitrate level? What's weird to me is that I haven't witnessed negative effects yet due to my trates but who knows what's happening at a microscopic level and waiting to bite me in the butt. Perhaps knowing more about your system will tell me!
 
I have 150 gallons spread across three 55s. I have about 160lbs of crushed coral and undergravel filters. It's a very dated tank. Not much has changed in 13 years. I am working on a replacement so I don't want to mess much with it. 32g, or 60g water changes every 1/2 year or so. Presently two fairly large fish. Maybe 70lbs of live rock. Waves.
 
Firstly I would suggest maybe trying another test-kit to see if it matches your current results, you can never be sure on accuracy. I'm not suggesting that you are wrong, or that your tank couldn't have 400ppm nitrates but its always best to double check.

Nitrates are survivable at high levels yes, but that doesn’t say animals will be ‘fine’ when exposed to such levels. It may be damaging fish and corals in ways that are undetectable, at least undetectable in the short to medium term. I believe it is the job of every conscientious aquarist to provide their animals with an environment as close as feasibly possible to their natural environment. This means have the best water quality possible, right tank size, suitable tankmates etc etc. When one of these things is not as it should be then everything should be done to correct it.

This is just my opinion, I'm not attacking your view or anything just respectfully disagreeing. I also think that such high nitrates may be a result of the use of undergravel filters, and that your current fish may in some way be acclimatised to such high levels but if you were to add any more fish they may die from the shock.

Some info.
http://www.aquaworldaquarium.com/Articles/TonyGriffitts/AdverseAffectofNitrateontheAquarium.htm
 
kcress said:
Not wanting to hack up journey0820's Nitrate Thread - I'm started this one in response to ReefScape's murderous personal attack. :eek::grinyes::grinyes:

See:
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=152532


Anyway while low, very low, really super low, and non existing nitrates are good I was making the point that higher ones are not as bad as they are made out to be... Noting that mine are really, super deluxe, excessively high, and my three chained tanks are fine. I do have lots, and lots of algae. In large part due to 16 hrs of lighting, high nitrates, and low flow,(though I do have occasional waves).

Anyway here's my nitrate test results from a few moments ago.

It should be noted the top color key is 175ppm.

The instructions admonish that you must multiply the reading by 2x if it is a test of saltwater.

Call nitrates 200ppm(?) x 2 = 400ppm?
Click to expand...

LOL....you think that was murderous? then you dont know me ;) Mearly passing on an opinion... :)
 
I would get another test kit and double check but from your maintenance and set up then it seems your high reading is probably accurate.

You won't be able to add any more fish to the tanks because I'm sure they would die from the nitrates whereas your fish now have gotten used to it. I think it would also shock them the fish you have if the nitrates suddenly lowered to the appropriate levels.

Just because your fish are surviving doesn't mean they are healthy...
 
I would not assume with any reliability that your nitrate levels are 400 ppm based on that color and scale. The color scale used for liquid test kits is not so easily interpretted -- i.e. twice the color does not necessarily mean twice the concentration, especially when measuring levels outside the test kit's range.

The only way to get a reasonable estimate of the concentration in this situation is to dilute your tank water down with known amounts of 0 nitrate water (RO/DI). If your test kit is only for saltwater or has saltwater specific instructions, you will need to make the salinity of the dilution water about the same as your tank to get accurate results (be sure your salt mix isn't adding any nitrates). I'd start with a 50/50 mix of tank water and dilution water, then see what your test kit reads (actual concentration would be double what the test kit instructions state). If it's still not in the color scale, try 25% tank water / 75% dilution water (multiply result by 4) or even 10% tank water / 90% dilution water (multiply result by 10). Who knows, you might just be correct, but I myself would not be so sure that they are 400 ppm from that picture.
 
I think that it is pretty safe to say that the Nitrate level is "very high". IMHO, the exact number is irrelevent at this point.
I would think gradual water changes to reduce the Nitrates to "normal" levels would be more important than trying to measure the exact concentration.
 
KuchDaddy said:
I think that it is pretty safe to say that the Nitrate level is "very high". IMHO, the exact number is irrelevent at this point.
I would think gradual water changes to reduce the Nitrates to "normal" levels would be more important than trying to measure the exact concentration.
Click to expand...

You're certainly correct. I was merely trying to provide a basis for the thread starter to quantify what those nitrate levels are. If any attempt to lower the nitrates is to be made, it would definitely require sizeable, daily water changes for what would likely be multiple weeks to bring that nitrate concentration down to a more commonly desired level. Reduced feeding may also be required to help the situation.
 
Well thanks all. Lots of great points.

Excellent point about acclimation as this occurred slowly. New fish might choke instantly.

The test kit is probably disturbingly old. The color I'm getting isn't really even a shade of the comparisons but a much redder hue.

fsn77; Great point on the dilution, suggestion. Thanks for the reminder on a way to stretch a test kit.

BTW I was not estimating 400 by the color depth. The instruction say to take the reading and double it for saltwater. All I did was guess that my color is 25 more than the 175 darkest comparison.

Another test kit comparison is a good point.


There is NO doubt my fish are healthy. They are going on 11 years old now.

Do these fish look un-healthy??

DSC_0584-1600.jpg DSC_0063.JPG
 
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