New Tank - Nitrates

[Wblaze]

I set up a new 29g tank on Saturday using a AQ70 from another tank. Today I added a Aq30 (I just like having back up) to it and noticed some small bubbles at the top of the tank. I tested water and 0 nitrite and 0 ammonia. I can never read these tests too well, but I have a orange for nitrate which would make it 20-80 depending on how you read it. Is this bad? I usually like to let a tank run for 10 days or so before doing a water change, but maybe I need to do one.

 

[Reel Addiction]

20-80 is a pretty broad range. 20 Id say your good to go, 80 Id say your high. Test another tank thats up and running then compare. A water change could never hurt.

 

[jonclark96]

Like Chris said, a water change can't hurt. Especially if you have established filters. The nitrate reading says that they are working. I don't know of a good reason not to do a water change if the tank is just recently set up.

 

[moka]

correct me if im wrong but isnt nitrate a product of nitrite and not as bad as nitrite?

 

[jonclark96]

Correct. Not as bad but not good either.


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[dogofwar]

The presence of NitrAte show that there are nitrifying bacteria converting (more harmful) NitrItes and Ammonia to (less harmful) NitrAte.

Many fish are sensitive to elevated nitrate levels...hence water changes.

Matt

 

[Wblaze]

Thanks for the advice all -- did a 30% water change. Not sure if the issue was a real nitrate spike or I just cant read the API test colors

 

[Frank Cowherd]

All this is assuming your tap water is low in nitrates and nitrites. Check the tap water to be sure, especially if you have well water. Even city water can have spikes though not normally.

 

[ezrk]

One thing I have found handy on interpreting NO2 and NO3 readings (which can be tough to differentiate) is to dilute the tank water with known 0ppm NOx water. The goal is to get a lower concentration which I find easier to read on the scales, then just multiply to get the true in tank value.

So if my NO3 was 20-80ppm. I might dilute by 50% then if I get a reading that looks like 10ppm it is truly 20ppm. If it still looks like 20 to 80 then re-do test with 25% tank water, etc.