Need Your Opinions

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dsbrasw

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Aug 22, 2005
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I need your opinions on why my nitrates have finally come under control so I'll know what to continue doing.

Within the last couple of months my nitrates would hit 40ppm weekly. Could have been more because I have a tough time seeing any difference between 40, 80 and 160 on the test strip. I would do water changes to bring it down to 20 ppm.

I added SeaChem Matrix to my Magnum HOT filter in early January because it claims to lower nitrates. Still having nitrate spikes in mid February. Got desperate and dosed the tank once after a large water change (30%) with Easy Balance. I figured it was probably worthless but wouldn't hurt - i was still going to keep up the water changes. Then, my nitrate kit ran dry!

Continued to do twice weekly 10-15% water changes with gravel vaccuming once per week. (I like doing smaller but more frequent water changes - it's easier on my back).

My tank is lightly planted (two large amazon swords, 4 baby amazon swords, 3 clumps of java moss, 1 small java fern, 2 banana plants). I was only vaccuming the bare gravel - not moving decorations or anything, so I was probably reaching only 1/3 of the gravel bed. Last week I removed all the decorations and vaccumed everywhere I could without disturbing the plants- about 2/3 of the gravel. I also started adding Flourish Excel for my plants.

Finally bought a new test kit on Tuesday. My nitrates are at 5ppm.

So what did it?
1) Matrix in Filter
2) Easy Balance
3) Heavy duty gravel cleaning
4) Flourish Excel - could carbon have been a limiting factor with my plants and now they are using alot more of the nitrates than before?

Tank specs: 55 gallon 79 degrees 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, 5 nitrates, KH 4, GH 7
Fish - 2 dwarf gourami, 1 male betta (currently in QT), 5 rummynose tetras, 4 neon tetra, 7 harlequin rasbora, 5 zebra danio, 6 white clouds, 6 cory cats, 3 flame tetra.

(Yes, I want to make some schools bigger and move others around to other tank, but not until I'm sure I have this nitrate thing under control)

Thanks for you advice!
 
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You don't mention how long the plants had been in the tank? I would suspect that it is indeed related to the plants. If they were new introductions, they need some time to establish good root growth and really start using available nutrients--now that they have carbon, you should see more growth, and few nitrates.

But--it's honestly tough to pinpoint just one factor. The increased gravel cleaning likely contributed as well. JMo, but the Easy Balance probably had nothing to do with it, and changing the media may have in the short term, but long term, is likely now depleted.
 
I added the 2 large swords in October. They are both having babies now. The java moss, java fern and banana plants are all new additions in early January.

The Matrix is only suppose to grow aerobic and anerobic bacteria (biomedia?). It's not supposed to remove stuff like the carbon does. I have a hard time beliving much anerobic bacteria could survice as fast as the water flow is on the Magnum.

I'm going to keep up the Flourish Excel & ferts (I've been using Leaf Zone since I got the first swords), weekly small vacs and large vacs every couple of months, and twice weekly water changes. Does this sound Ok? If my nitrates stay low, how many more fish can I add to bump up some of my schools? I'm thinking about moving the neon tetras to another smaller tank that already has three neons in it.

My HOT Magnum has a biowheel attachement and I also have a Penguin 350 running. I don't use carbon regularly.

Thanks for your help!
 
Edit: nevermind I didn't read your post correctly. I know java moss absorbs a lot of nitrates.
 
I'd flesh out the flame tetra school, and maybe look at adding some more bottom dwellers. There are lots of fish other than cories that are pretty cool fish. This would give you some variety, and give you activity at the bottom as well as the midwater and top levels. Maybe kuhli loaches?
 
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