High Nitrate levels.

[Fruityscone]

Hi all,
Have a developing problem with the nitrate level in my aquarium, tested the tap water straight from the tap which came back excellent, 0 to be precise. My tank is up at 50, can't understand why!
Water changes occur regularly, every 1-2 weeks, I have several species of freshwater aquarium plants, regular gravel vacuums are carried out, just a little stumped! Can someone help!

My aquarium is as follows;
39 litre interpet moon pod, containing 22 freshwater fish, Poecilla Rataculata and letipinna, panda garra flavavatra, Xiphophorius mataculatus and finally paracheridon axelrodi. As stated earlier several species of plants are included, Vallis, amozonia etc.

 

[lauraf]

Not sure how long you've had the tank set up before the nitrate problem developed, but 22 fish in a 39litre tank sounds overstocked and that is likely causing the nitrate buildup.

 

[OrangeCones]

+1 lauraf - Fruityscone, your tank does seem a bit overstocked. The garras show, in reading other websites, as needing 85liters at a minimum for a small group.

Water changes occur regularly, every 1-2 weeks

Test your water immediately BEFORE your next water change for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. Then an hour AFTER you do your water change, do the same tests. Then run the same tests daily until your next water change.

You can then see how much of an impact your water change is making. If it doesn't lower the nitrates enough, you may need to increase the volume of water being changed. If the nitrates come down to under 20 immediately after the water change, but build back up high before your next water change day, you may need to decrease the time between water changes.

Overstocked tanks can be difficult to keep healthy in most cases, without a lot of work.

 

[Fruityscone]

Thanks for the reply, but we were assured by the seller "Maidenhead Aquatics" that the total number of fish we could have in the tank was between 25-30. We always go back to these people to buy all our fish, bearing in mind they have advised us every step of the way with setting up to maintaining the tank, now in a bit of quandary.
Do I have to many fish and if so what to do?

Thanks again.

 

[Fruityscone]

Thank you for the advice, I will be sure to use it at the next water change.
We only have two "garras" in the tank, five "guppies", five "platy's" and six "cardinals" and we were assured the "garras" were perfectly fine for the size of tank and the quantity we have added. Bit stumped. But will be taking your advise, thanks again.

 

[Thyra]

Go to Aquadvisor.com and put in your stocking. Although it isn't etched in stone, it will give you some idea of what you can put in a 39 liter aquarium.

 

[Purple]

Do what orangecones suggests - it's the only way to see what's going on

Maidenhead Aquatics huh ......... *cough*