what are the symptoms of nitrAte poisoning?

[BuMbLeBeE69]

have a socofoli who is laying at the bottom of the tank on the air stone waiting for bubbles... i did a water change and added amquel plus after noticing how high the nitrates were, they weren't really bad (the second color down on color key) but are usually at the minimun when I test with my test kit ( which is liquid btw so pretty accurate) this is why i think it is that, after a storm the other day i noticed that i had more snails than suspected and i think that is what caused the spike? when it storms they move to the top of the tank.
my socofoli is 4 years old and i have never lost any of my fish ever because my tank is always in its perfect perimeters... amonia is at 0 and everything else is down there with it, ph is a constant 8.2. I have atank of africans and every one else is fine... wierd.

so do you think thats what it is? :huh:

 

[jpappy789]

Tank size and stock?
What is your maintenance routine?
How old was the test kit you are using?
What was the EXACT nitrate reading?
What about nitrItes?

Nitrate poisoning is very, very uncommon and most fish can tolerate levels higher than what we usually see in our aquariums (search "old tank syndrome" for more info).

 

[efors]

As jpappy, I would like to know the exact nitrate reading and as him, I don't think it is a nitrate problem. I also think that snails are not the problem; I have had in my tanks hundreds of them without consequences. If your water parameters are good and all your other Africans are fine as you said, being your socolofi more than 4 years old; maybe it is an aggression issue or the time for him to go away.