The Puffer Forum

Hi...
...so I'm halfway(hopefully) through getting advice on my ridiculously high Nitrate levels in Mickey's tank and I just popped home at lunch time to find the tank looking like lemon squash it's that cloudy!Now I am a Biologist and a Chemist and I know that nitrates will not cloud the water, but I'm at a total loss here when all my other levels are fine and they have not had a feed since saturday!
Is mickey playing wit me here?
Anyone who can help me, please do...anyone that can't, please motivate me!

Algae boom...... it usually goes with high nitrate levels. Seems like ur test kit was working alright then...

Bum!
So any tried&tested methods?
(Excellent quick reply)

Not really except keeping up with the water changes to keep the nitrates down. I like to add some polyfilter to my filter. Have you checked out the levels of your source water yet?

we need to know what tank mickey is in. nitrates are a tricky one, but can be helped by using several methods. but gotta know tank size first

Hi..sorry for delay in reply...
...he's in a 25UKgallon tank...
...I'm still doing waterchanges to try(in vain it would seem) to get the nitrate levels down... actually did resort to BOILING the test tubes, even though they are brand new (before rinsing with water from the tank and then testing)!
Mickey's even more stressed out at the moment, though, because I got home on Tuesday night and went to say hello to him.. he was in the middle of a rave (some problem with the light in that it's flashing erratically like a strobe)! Haven't been able to fix as yet, so Mickey's been thrown into the dark and he's not liking it much, getting even more grumpy and recluse!
Maybe Mickey and I aren't meant to be?!?!

...PS: the nitrate levels in my tap water are 5-10 by the looks... should I be drinking that?!
..doesn't really cast much light on the levels in my tank, nevertheless.

In the USA, the EPA sets limits on nitrogen in potable water systems at 10ppm nitrate-nitrogen, which is about 44ppm nitrate. I know that there are multiple areas in the UK with quite high nitrate in the water supply, but have no knowledge of your regulations. Nitrate levels of 5-10ppm in potable water are not bad. None is of course better for tank keepers, but that is not a level which will cause you tank problems in FW or BW. For a reef tank you might want to process the water via RO or DI or both.

Source of Water
The supply to this area is from a blend of sources from our East Midlands Strategic Network
Water Quality
Depending on its origin, water can contain a variety of natural mineral salts. All water in supply is carefully purified at modern treatment plants to ensure that potential contaminants are removed in order to meet strict UK and European standards.
Quality Control
Each year we take many thousands of samples direct from the customers' taps to ensure its quality. The table below shows typical values for your area. Individual results may vary slightly due to natural changes in the raw water, and also to changes which occur within the domestic plumbing system.
Analysis Typical Value UK/European Limit Units
Hardness Level Moderately Hard No Standard Applies
Hardness Clarks 12.74 No Standard Applies Degrees
Hardness 73 No Standard Applies mgCa/l
Aluminium 10.2 200 μgAl/l
Chloride 26.1 250 mgCl/l
Chlorine 0.15 No Standard Applies mg/l
Coliform bacteria 0 0 no./100ml
Colour 0.98 20 mg/l Pt/Co
Conductivity 437 2500 μS/cm at 20°C
E.coli bacteria 0 0 no./100ml
Fluoride 0.32 1.5 mgF/l
Iron 39.7 200 μgFe/l
Manganese 2.51 50 μgMn/l
Nitrate 13.84 50 mgNO3/l
Odour 0 3 at 25°C Dilution Number
Pesticides 0 0.5 μg/l
pH 7.57 6.5 - 10.0 pH Value
Sodium 24.6 200 mgNa/l
Taste 0 3 at 25°C Dilution Number
Plumbing Metals
Copper 0.02 2.0 mgCu/l
Lead 2 25 μgPb/l
Nickel 2.1 20 μgNi/l

Key- first figure is actual for my address and second is UK/European max level

Thanks Rocker, handy info.

So the nitrate levels allowed are a bit higher than the US allowance, but not by much.

With the algae issues you are having, it is best to keep him in the dark anyway.