Nitrate at 80 ppm

[Huihui]

Help my nitrate is at 80ppm. I did a water change about 60 precent, and I check the water again is still at 80ppm, so I did a 70 percent water change again and is still at 80ppm. What do I do? Should I buy denitrate? 

Ammonia: 0ppm

Nitrite: 5.0ppm

Nitrate: 80 ppm

[xXInkedPhoenixX]

Hi there. Did you recently add fertilizers? More specifically root tabs? 

Are your fish showing any signs of illness?

My Nitrates are consistently at 40 and sometimes appear to be at 80 (per API Master Test) and my fish do fine. 

[Huihui]

no I'm not using any fertilizers. My fish seems to be doing fine at the moment, I have one ranchu that has mild swim bladder that i'm currently treating. 

[xXInkedPhoenixX]

OK, what are you using to test the water and do you have an alternative testing strip or kit?

[Huihui]

I use Api fresh water kit

[xXInkedPhoenixX]

Ok, have you been consistently shaking the 2nd bottle for 30 seconds and then the test tube for 1 minute since you STARTED using the kit?

[Huihui]

Yes I been shaking it for 30 secs

[xXInkedPhoenixX]

This is usually the issue with most people using the freshwater test kit- if you haven't been shaking the 2nd bottle for 30 seconds and then the test tube for 1 minute after you add the 2nd bottle drops SINCE YOU STARTED USING THE KIT AND EVERY TIME AFTER this will give you false readings for the life of the kit- there are crystals that form in the 2nd bottle that need to dissolve which is the reason for all the shaking. 

I would get a bottle of test strips as a back up test when you can. 

If your fish are not acting off then I would do nothing further. If you're iffy about it do another water change tomorrow or when your fish are not acting right. I suspect you may be getting false readings OR you have Nitrate in your replacement water- which you can also test for. 

Edited April 11, 2022 by xXInkedPhoenixX

[Huihui]

I even test it on my tap water and is 0ppm.

I maybe do another water change tomorrow

[xXInkedPhoenixX]

OK. If your fish are not showing signs of illness and the swim bladder was being treated before you saw a spike in nitrate I'd just monitor and at most do another water change tomorrow and see what pans out. 

[xXInkedPhoenixX]

I wouldn't recommend using bandaid products like denitrate UNLESS it's an emergency and fish are showing signs of stress. Even then water changing is better. Since that doesn't seem to be the case avoid it. They often cause more fluctuations in parameters that actually stress fish more the majority of the time. 🙂 

[Huihui]

Okay, so this time I shake it for two minutes to make sure this time. It shows 10-20ppm can't tell but is orange now. Thanks for the advice.  

[xXInkedPhoenixX]

Yes I suspect you are getting false readings from your test kit.