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High Nitrates
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Author:  Facetor2001 [ Dec 7th, '14, 16:33 ]
Post subject:  High Nitrates

My System is a 1000lt fish tank with one standard grow bed & one half that size almost 3years old , in the last couple of months I have been getting high nitrate readings continuously, I have changed about 50% of the water at least 3 times replacing with scheme water. I have lost about 12 nice native goldfish, only have about10 left. I am reluctant to get more fish until the water is right. I have had good growth from the plants in the system, so wonder what the best plan is to get the nitrate down from 160 plus.

Author:  Bcasey2703 [ Dec 7th, '14, 16:44 ]
Post subject:  Re: High Nitrates

Hi Facetor

I'm still new so can't comment too much, but you'll probably get a better response if you also post some other info like
- temperature
- ammonia, nitrites, and ph levels
- what type of system (ie chop etc)
- what plants you currently have
- what media you use
- how much food you normally feed fish

This will help people give you advice!

Author:  Bcasey2703 [ Dec 7th, '14, 16:45 ]
Post subject:  Re: High Nitrates

Oh and pics, pics always help haha ;p

Author:  Facetor2001 [ Dec 8th, '14, 15:53 ]
Post subject:  Re: High Nitrates

Hi Bcasey 2703, Thanks for the reply, I am not feeding the fish at all at present to try & help the Nitrate to come down. The temp is about 18deg the Ammonia is 0.25ppm, P.H 7.6, Nitrite 0.0 ppm. The plants I have in at present are Chilli /4, Capcicum /4, Mint/ 1, Rocket Lettuce /6, Other lettuce /6 & Spring Onions about 50.

Author:  Blizzard [ Dec 8th, '14, 18:37 ]
Post subject:  Re: High Nitrates

I had high nitrates for the last three weeks. I put in two tomatoes. A strawberry. A cucumber. A chilli. And a capsicum.
Levels were 40/80ppm. Did a test yesterday and there back down to 10ppm. I also add 100ltrs of aquarium water each week to my IBC. Grow beds. The fish tank levels were. A0.25 nitrite 0.25 nitrate 80/100. Yes I should clean it more often. My system is almost six months old. I am growing 3 Sliver Perch and 5 Barramundi. 1300ltrs

Author:  Bodgy [ Dec 8th, '14, 18:48 ]
Post subject:  Re: High Nitrates

Nitrates aren't usually much of a worry to be honest.
They'd have to be off the charts in a big way to be a problem for the fish and I can't recall anyone having any real problems with high nitrates.
Ammonia and nitrites are another story though of course.
Mind you, the change of readings in a 3 year old system is interesting and it's worth looking into what's happening.
I wonder if the beds have a lot of solids in them after that much time?
(I'm also wondering what a native goldfish is?)

Author:  Facetor2001 [ Dec 9th, '14, 08:27 ]
Post subject:  Re: High Nitrates

High Bodgy, I have had a good look down into the media & there is not much there in the way of solids I have a bit of Algea but not enough to cause any bed readings. The native Goldfish is just a dark grey fish which does turn to a gold colour over time some of them don't change at all. They probably will grow to about 2-3 klg over time.

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