Nitrates rise and ph same

[Blubull]

Help. This 55 gal planted tank is getting me frustrated. Nitrates are high around 100-160, ph is steady 6.8, gh is 120-180, kh is around 40, zero nitrites, zero ammonia. Just did a second 50% water change in 2 days. City tap water (ph 6.8) (zero nitrates) through declorinator filter. Tested after water change and it's 80. Just ordered crush coral and large pore filters. I am running 2 sponge filters with water pumps on top of them. Tank was set up in Sept 2019. What can I do?

[Colu]

Do you use nitrogen base  liquid fertilizer such as easy green

Edited April 1, 2021 by Colu

[Blubull]

No. Only thing I have use during set up was the.... Forgot the name "Duvall?" Substrate. It was recommended for planted tanks.

[Colu]

Am not formula with that substrate have you had these problems since you setup the tank 

Edited April 1, 2021 by Colu

[Blubull]

Just started here in the last few weeks. Starting to lose fish. About 4 now in the last month. Couple months ago was fighting black beard algae, got 6 otos, they have been busy. Not all gone but differently getting better.

[Colu]

It possible that your substrate has started leech nitrates as it got older I would add some quick growing floating plants like water lettuce and Amazonian frogbit or duckweed to help remove some of your nitrates

[Blubull]

Did just ordered Brazilian pennywort and water sprite with the same thoughts. Getting plants to eat more....

[Colu]

I would add more quick growing plants like Hornwort and vallisneria the more plants you have to soak up. Your nirates the better

[Blubull]

Of the 5 plants you mentioned, are all fast growing? Floating plants worry me about light getting to plants below.

[PlaneFishGuy]

@Blubull have you validated your test kit accuracy against another test kit or had LFS test it? Im pretty new to keeping plants but I know I had to dump in a lot of Easy-green fertilizer in my tank just to get to a baseline of 20 ppm nitrates.  

[Colu]

Yes they are all fast growing plants

 

[Blubull]

Using test strips and master liquid kit. Lfs use test strips around here.

I'll give it a try either way.

I will be getting more plants for sure. Thanks guys!

[Medkow74]

So you had Nitrates between 100-160. Did a water change and got them to 80, correct?

Have tried doing another water change to see if you can take it down to maybe 60 or 40?

Depending on the percentage of of the water change, assuming your re fill water is at 0 ppm, you're not going to remove of the Nitrates in one water change.

I don't see where you said how often or how much of a water change you do. I also don't recall you mentioning what type, size or quantity of inhabitants you have in the tank. All of this could help with the situation. 

Sorry, I just seen the picture of your tank.

 

Edited April 3, 2021 by Medkow74
Saw picture I missed earlier

[Blubull]

After the second water change of 50%, the first was 50%. The reading was still over 80. The first water change didn't drop but about to 120? My scale goes from 20,40, 60,80,100,160. I vacuumed the gravel both times. I got plants on order to add more to help absorb nitrates. Also have every skimpy on feeding fish.

[Medkow74]

Has the 50% water changes been a normal routine or did you just start doing them?

Judging from the pictures it doesn't seem like you have that high of a bio-load from fish for that size tank.

Another cause of high nitrates is decaying plant matter and dirty filters. Have you squeezed out the sponge filters recently? Do you gravel vac?

I also do not believe the crushed coral or different filters will help with Nitrates.

[Blubull]

At one time I had 3 times the fish count. They were dropping babies faster than I could catch them. Got rid of about 30 fish back then. But I also had more plants then too. Was trimming plants on a weekly basis. Water parameters were fantastic too, except the ph, it has always been hovering around 6.8. My water changes were happening when I cleaned filters or replaced them, usually around a month or so. 

[Blubull]

[Medkow74]

Well from that that could definitely cause the high nitrates. Now you just have to do more frequent water changes to get them.down. You didn't answer if you gravel vac or recently cleaned the sponge filters so we can't go on that. 

Before I got more vigilant with doing water changes and gravel vac'ing I also found out my nitrates were sky high. 

I lowered mine by better maintence but I was using fake plants because I had Mbuna.

[Blubull]

Yes, deep gravel vac and filters cleaned has been done here every day in the last 3 days. Before the gravel vac and filter changed when I did water changes but only 25%. Which was about once a month.

[Colu]

I would definitely increase water changes to 25% a week and I think you will see a reduction in nitrates

[Medkow74]

I think what you have for substrate is Fluval Stratum? If so I haven't read anything on the old inter webs that proves it raises Nitrates. 

I would double check your Nitrates in your tab water again because everything that I know of that would raise Nitrates you are either taking care of or aren't doing from what I've read.

Also what are the three vials representing, in order, in the picture you provided?

I also agree with Colu. I would probably do 25% or 50% everyday till you bring the Nitrates down. Then test the water everyday till you start seeing them go back up to the level you want to keep them at. Then do whatever percentage water change is required to keep them at that level come water change time.

[Blubull]

Left vial was current tank water test of nitrates, middle is tap water after declorinator filter, right one is tank water 30 mins after a 50% water change.

[Blubull]

On 4/1/2021 at 7:44 PM, Blubull said:

Just started here in the last few weeks. Starting to lose fish. About 4 now in the last month. Couple months ago was fighting black beard algae, got 6 otos, they have been busy. Not all gone but differently getting better.

Aquarium set up currently

[Blubull]

11 hours ago, Blubull said:

Previous set up which had more plants.

[Medkow74]

I don't know why I didn't notice before but looking at the pictures again the substrate looks like plain gravel? Is that right?

But anyway if it is or not with your water change water having no Nitrates in it water changes should bring it down pretty quick. 

If my math is correct, say you had 100ppm of Nitrates. Changing 50% of your water with your water would lower it to 50ppm. So as long as something isn't raising it unusually quick doing three 50% water in three days would bring it below 40ppm. 

From the information you're providing if that doesn't work I'm lost.