WhoWeR Posted June 24, 2008 Report Share Posted June 24, 2008 I never had problems with nitrate before and now nothing is making any sense. It seems ALL my tanks are suddenly over 40. ammonia and nitrite are 0. It doesn't matter what I do I can't bring the reading down. My tap water tests at 0. 50% water changes makes no difference. I thought it was my test kit but took water samples to my LFS and got the same results. I have added zeolite to one tank and it made no difference. The cichlid tank all seem happy and are all breeding and chasing the girls like crazy. My 6ft is off but it hasn't been right for a while. The other tanks are all lightly stocked and seem fine. Is there something else that can cause a faulty nitrate reading? Any suggestions what to do? Jenny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Motorman Posted June 25, 2008 Report Share Posted June 25, 2008 Hey Jenny Are you running a System or individual tanks? I use Purigen for numerous reasons and removing Nitrate is one of them Though 40ppm isnt an extremely high reading but you dont want it getting to high Brad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhoWeR Posted June 25, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 25, 2008 The are individual tanks and are all setup different. 6x2x2 - tropical, 4x18x24 - cichlid, 3x2x18 - birchardi and some growout tanks. I just don't understand why they are all reading high nitrates, even with massive water changes. The readings are coming back at least 40ppm. I have a new test kit, aquarium pharmaceuticals, and I can't tell the difference in the readings after 40. I will have a look into the purigen. I know the seachem products are fantastic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Motorman Posted June 25, 2008 Report Share Posted June 25, 2008 Let me know if your after any Jenny as I sell heaps of it I am sure I can work some discounts for ya Maybe they are really high alot higher then 40 ppm and thats why ur not seeing a difference after a water change Brad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhoWeR Posted June 25, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 25, 2008 Just reading the seachem website and I don't know if purigen will help my current situation. http://www.seachem.com/products/product ... rigen.html Purigen™ controls ammonia, nitrites and nitrates by removing nitrogenous organic waste that would otherwise release these harmful compounds. From what I understand of that it removes the organic waste before it goes through the nitrogen cycle. Is that right? If that's the case it will not lower my current nitrate levels. Maybe I will take a sample of the water and water it down and test it and see how far I have to water it down to get a better reading. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Motorman Posted June 25, 2008 Report Share Posted June 25, 2008 Hi Jenny It wont stop your tank cycling though it helps keep everything under control It will remove Nitrate from your tank though I use it in all my Display tanks and they cycle perfectly just the end result is being removed pus the added benefit of clarifying the water as well If you do decide to use this product its money well spent as the product is regenerable Brad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
japes Posted June 25, 2008 Report Share Posted June 25, 2008 I've found the API test can vary a little. Make sure you read the instructions to the cue from the booklet, as holding your finger on or off the end of the cap can vary test results; be sure to do what it tells you. How often do you do Nitrate tests? Has this level of Nitrates crept up on you or is it a somewhat sudden occurrence? I'll add a vote for Seachem Purigen, but it sounds like a possible water source problem, have you tested your tap water for Ammonia or Nitrite, as these could be present and being converted into excessive Nitrates by your anaerobic bacteria. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhoWeR Posted June 25, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 25, 2008 Thank Brad I will let you know. The nitrate problem seems to be a sudden thing. I had my 6ft tested at the shop two weeks ago and it tested prefect except the was almost no nitrates, which concerned me. I didn't test the others back then as all the fish seemed fine (except for a case of whitespot in one, not the 6ft). All the tanks have been getting regular weekly water changes of 20-30%. The whitespot tank had just 50% water to get rid of some of the salt but it's still testing really high. I have read the instructions over and over thinking I was doing something wrong. I even check at the shop, it case it was the way I was doing If it was just one tank I wouldn't think too much and just work with it but all of the tanks, at the same time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aterese Posted June 25, 2008 Report Share Posted June 25, 2008 I swear by Purigen after this week. My nitrate rocketed to 80 and water changes did nothing. Then I added Purigen in the canister and within 2 days I have 0 nitrate, 0 nitrite and the usual 0.15 amonia. pH is also now good at 7.8 and I could never get it up with water changes before. I did a 25% change and seachum, then a 40% change with addition of the purigen. I think it's a miracle, as I was sure I would loose all the fish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
japes Posted June 25, 2008 Report Share Posted June 25, 2008 the usual 0.15 amonia Perhaps you're reading your test kits wrong, because any Ammonia levels above 0 should be cautiously looked at. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhoWeR Posted June 25, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 25, 2008 Ummm maybe it's back to front Anyway. Just took at trip done to my LFS and my usual person wasn't there. Hit some guy that I don't think has a cue how to do a nitrate test. According to his test all my tanks are now 0. :whoa: But he didn't shake any bottles or the via beyond a quick up down. I hope nobody else asks him for help. I brought a new test kit and I am still getting the same readings. I have a two foot BN growout tank. There is about 2 large batchs of bubs in there, running with a large sponge filter. It has been getting 2/week water changes of at least 20%. It had 50% on saturday and 50% today and it's still reading 40pmm+. You would think with all those water changes it wouldn't be that bad. Considering the tap water is 0. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
japes Posted June 25, 2008 Report Share Posted June 25, 2008 Have you tested your tap water for Ammonia and Nitrite? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhoWeR Posted June 25, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 25, 2008 Not until just then stupid me. Ammonia 0.5 :worry: Nitrite 0 Nitrate 0 I used to age all my water in a barrel with water ager or prime. But since shutting down the garage I have been just making it as I go. I was using a cheap water ager. I did on saturady pick up some new stuff "water ager cn" for the LFS, it is suppose to neutralize ammonia. They said it works just like prime but much cheaper. The water changes since then have been with it. I suppose it will take time for the old ammonia to run through the tank? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Motorman Posted June 25, 2008 Report Share Posted June 25, 2008 Does your new Ager also work on Chloramine? Prime IMO is the best product and the only one I would be using if I was living on Brissie water Ammonia should be detoxified very quickly but it only converts it to Free Ammonia wich is noon toxic and unless you have a really good test kit it will still show up on your Test Brad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhoWeR Posted June 25, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 25, 2008 yes it does. Bottle says: instant chlorine, chloramine, ammonia & heavy metals neutralizer + slime coat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aterese Posted June 25, 2008 Report Share Posted June 25, 2008 the usual 0.15 amonia Perhaps you're reading your test kits wrong, because any Ammonia levels above 0 should be cautiously looked at. It's because the tank is still building up good bacteria. The cycling is only getting towards 3 weeks now. It is lowering each week as establishes and water changes. Took sample to LFS and they confirmed everything is fine now, except to keep eye on Ammonia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waltec Posted July 4, 2008 Report Share Posted July 4, 2008 Hi Jenny, I've also been having trouble with nitrates. My Amonia and nitrites are 0, but nitrates were 30. That made sense, filter was working fine converting the amonia to nitrites, and finally to nitrates, and obviously doing it well due to the zeros. I thought the Nitrates were high because I'd been busy (read slack) and not kept up on water changes. So did a big water change (well as big as your game with a 3500l system). Checked it again the next day, exactly the same. Thought that was a waste of time!!! Was talking to an old fish friend, and he asked had I checked the tap water?? No DOOH!!! Next day checked my aged water, you guessed it 30ppm!!!! So no mater how many water changes I do it will not reduce my nitrates. This was a month ago and still the same. I'm now looking at a couple of options, filling a fluid bed filter with purigen (couple of people having huge success with this), the other is an ECO Bio block. I know of a few fish people in brissie running it with great success, leesening the need to water change, but not sure if it will actually lower nitrates, It seems as though it stops (slows) the creation of nitrates, not remove. Matt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimbozed Posted July 11, 2008 Report Share Posted July 11, 2008 ive got a couple of eco-bio blocks in my 4x2x2 display there is a sailfin in there that shits like crazy and i havent done a water change for like 4 weeks and i tested the water yesterday and my nitrates are under 5ppm ive never got a reading that low, even when i did water changes every 2 weeks these eco-bio blocks are something that need to be looked into more closely i think they on to something Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mad-n-angry Posted July 16, 2008 Report Share Posted July 16, 2008 from what i know of the eco bio blocks they r the ducks nutz in fish keeping there is 4-6 guys from another forum which were given samples and they r doing no water changes or 1 in every 6-12 months and all have very very low test readings The test tank occupants are: 2x 25cm Oscars. 2x 35cm Plecos. 4x 20cm Plecos. 7x Parrots.(4 males @ 15-18cm each & 3 females 12-15cm). 1x 20cm Synodontus Decorus The water tests are as follows: pH : 7.2 Ammonia: 0 Nitrite: 0 Nitrate: 20 GH: 120 KH: 70 Fe: 0 PO4: 5 Ca2: 40 5weeks with no water change. All occupants of the tank are fine & showing no signs of illeffect. The nitrate level is staying constant at 10, it hasn't risen at all. I've finally got off my butt & done another test, the nitrate is still reading 10 . Since this started about 2 1/2 months Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mad-n-angry Posted July 16, 2008 Report Share Posted July 16, 2008 if ya want more info on the ebb's try here this is the australian distributor http://www.vectorclear.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhoWeR Posted July 16, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 16, 2008 Thanks for the help. Still having problems but they are starting to level out a bit. Still been slack getting the matrix and purigen running in the 6ft, just been too busy. I will look into the eco-bio blocks more thanks Jenny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
