nitrAte

[Star_Rider]

check your tap..some times you will find positive nitrate readigs in your tap.

base the count on that. my tap may read as high as 20 I change water and vac weekly my nitrates may read 60 sometimes.

the fish are fine..I even keep discus at those levels ( i do try and keep them at 40 if possible) but again it is mainly a guideline..as what you are really trying to reduce is dissolved organics.

 

[Dixon]

yep a water change is needed but as advised keeping nitrate below 20 is not always possible.
i had 20-30ppm nitrate outa my tap although it is less than 5ppm now i still had around 60-80ppm within a week and was doing 1 50% water change a week or soemtimes 2 30% changes a week.