fishmom Posted June 23, 2021 Share Posted June 23, 2021 What might cause continued high nitrates in a tank that is heavily planted and gets regular water changes? I gravel vac regularly (every few weeks) and water change about 25% weekly. Nitrates out of the tap are 0. Heavily planted 10 gallon with only 3 guppies, snails, and shrimp. Has internal filter and sponge filter. Would not cleaning the filter often increase nitrates? I have a similar situation happening in one of my 29 gallon with platies, but not the my 3 other tanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted June 23, 2021 Share Posted June 23, 2021 What substrate do have in the tank and what fertilizers are you using Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishmom Posted June 23, 2021 Author Share Posted June 23, 2021 Basic pea gravel in both tanks, easy green every once in a while but not often Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted June 23, 2021 Share Posted June 23, 2021 It could be the easy green causing your high nitrates I would stop dosing easy green and see if your nitrates come down Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schwack Posted June 23, 2021 Share Posted June 23, 2021 What is "high" in this case? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ARMYVET Posted June 23, 2021 Share Posted June 23, 2021 Lets not forget about fish food....an excess of uneaten fish food will cause high nitrates as well as it breaks down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishmom Posted June 23, 2021 Author Share Posted June 23, 2021 On 6/23/2021 at 2:32 PM, Schwack said: What is "high" in this case? 80 ish Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schwack Posted June 23, 2021 Share Posted June 23, 2021 I'd say @Colu has it right, stop dosing ferts for a while. I'd be amazed if three guppies could push nitrates to 80ppm in a planted tank without outside supplementation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishmom Posted June 23, 2021 Author Share Posted June 23, 2021 On 6/23/2021 at 2:30 PM, Colu said: It could be the easy green causing your high nitrates I would stop dosing easy green and see if your nitrates come down By 'not often' I mean like once a month when I remember, so I don't think thats the problem Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remi de Groot Posted June 23, 2021 Share Posted June 23, 2021 Nitrates, if not from fertilizer, comes from waste. So to much rotting food, rotting plants, or dead animals in your aquarium. Hoe much and how often do you feed? I follow @ARMYVET that this might be the problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishmom Posted June 23, 2021 Author Share Posted June 23, 2021 On 6/23/2021 at 3:41 PM, Remlicht89 said: Nitrates, if not from fertilizer, comes from waste. So to much rotting food, rotting plants, or dead animals in your aquarium. Hoe much and how often do you feed? I follow @ARMYVET that this might be the problem. flakes daily 5/7 days, about once a week they get a treat of frozen brine shrimp or similar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ARMYVET Posted June 23, 2021 Share Posted June 23, 2021 On 6/23/2021 at 4:43 PM, fishmom said: flakes daily 5/7 days, about once a week they get a treat of frozen brine shrimp or similar. Well thats the what ....but the key is how much? If there is uneaten food left behind on the tank floor that is too much and over time it builds up and starts to decay causing an eventual rise in nitrates. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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