The Puffer Forum

I read RTR's article on nitrification, but I still have a question. I had a fish die (possibly chemical balance, but possibly old age) so I did a water test using API's Freshwater master test kit. I found that I had a slightly elevated pH (8.1, it usually runs 7., and a very elevated nitrate (40-80). I tested the tap water it was 0ppm for nitrate.

What I put in my water:
Seachem Prime
Seachem Flourish:Iron (no phospates or nitrates) (Ive used this for about 2 weeks when my Wisteria started to lose its leaves)
weekly/biweekly water changes (1/4-1/5).

Is my best bet on reducing the nitrate levels, to get another wisteria plant?

More water changes You can't substitute anything else for them.

what is the KH/GH/phosphate levels? 8.1 is high no doubt

If the plants aren't absorbing the nitrates quick enough with your water changes then there may be something off in the tank.

BTW .. you did a double post

oops.

i dont have anything to test for phosphates, unfortunately that wasnt one of the things that came in the $40 kit. ill see if i cant get something to test for it as well.

i try not to do the water changes more than twice a week, cause the fish seem to be slightly stressed by it.

You should not have to do more then one a week if you just do larger changes.

lil fish wrote:I read RTR's article on nitrification, but I still have a question. I had a fish die (possibly chemical balance, but possibly old age) so I did a water test using API's Freshwater master test kit. I found that I had a slightly elevated pH (8.1, it usually runs 7., and a very elevated nitrate (40-80). I tested the tap water it was 0ppm for nitrate.

What I put in my water:
Seachem Prime
Seachem Flourish:Iron (no phospates or nitrates) (Ive used this for about 2 weeks when my Wisteria started to lose its leaves)
weekly/biweekly water changes (1/4-1/5).

Is my best bet on reducing the nitrate levels, to get another wisteria plant?

Hello lil fish,
You don't mention your ammonia or nitrite levels? The dying plant leaves will create ammonia and convert to nitrate so that could be the cause of your higher levels.
You mention that you're dosing Seachem Flourish but you don't say how much? Are you sticking to the instructions on the bottle?

sticking with the instructions. both the nitrites and ammonia were 0ppm

you probably started out with a high ammonia level that produced a high nitrite level that in turn produced a VERY high nitrate level. The numbers get bigger each step of the cycle.

Water changes are #1. If you want to get it under 20 you'll probably need an 80%. Then keep an eye on it. Do a test after each WC until you know how much water to remove to balance it out each week. After that you know and would probably test monthly. You'll get into a routine.