Angiemike6

Which test kit are you using to test the nitrates. The API one is very difficult to judge what the nitrate level is, and from my experience also tends to give a much higher reading than say the NT Labs kit. I have a 40 gallon community tank where Ammonia is 0, Nitrits are 0, PH is 7.8, GH is 17 and KH 6. My nitrates are between 40-80 using the API test. As the other readings are fine, and my fish are not dying or getting stressed I have stopped worrying about the nitrate level, which in the water supplied by my water company is 32 ppm in any case. I also only feed 3 times a week, as waste food can contribute towards high nitrates.

Hi all. My name is Mike and I am from Bristol in the UK. I have a Juwel Vision 180 litre tank at the moment and absolutely love it. It has a lovely curved front, and both it and the filter is so easy to keep clean. I have been keeping community fish now for 30 years. These days I tend to overstock my tank, but do not get fish dying or becoming ill. I do weekly water changes of about 35%, and only feed the fish 3 times a week. I have Boesemani Rainbowfish, Clown loaches, Congo Tetras, Bolivian Ram, Albino Corys, Golden Gourami, Plecs, Golden Dwarf Cichlid and Cardinal Tetras. Most of the above fish are about 8/10 years of age. Although I do have 2 Cardinal Tetras, they will not be replaced when they die as I find it very difficult these days to keep them alive. When I first started my aquarium I cycled my first tank on 6 Cardinal Tetras and they all survived. Perhaps these days they are mainly produced in fish farms, rather than from the wild, and have become weak. Any suggestions on this would be greatly appreciated. I am really looking forward to this forum.