The Puffer Forum

I just vacuumed my tetra tank (10 gal) and did a partial water change. I just checked (for the first time with this tank) and the nitrates are around 80ppm!! What can I do??

Bigger water change.

How much water & how often have you been changing regularly?

Ummm, I haven't, except for when I cleaned the tank (that was before I knew about water changes). With the vacuum, I got about two gals out. It was also the first time I'd vacuumed (my sincere apologies to all my fish in the past who I have not treated well due to ignorance!!). Before, I would clean the gravel when I cleaned the tank, which included (please please don't hate me!) taking the fish out, taking all the water out and the gravel and plants (plastic) and cleaning them all (including the filter cartridge) in tap water. (oh my god I feel like a horrible person!) I guess I should do a much larger water change huh? How often would you recommend changes to make the tank "normal"?

I'd do daily changes, including gravel vacuuming, of at least 30% until they get back under control.

I'd do just a bit less, 20-25%, just to not shock the fish. Read the article here: http://www.thepufferforum.com/articles/small/ots.html