rgdigital

We've had our 29gal tank for about 2.5 years. We bought the package deal from Petsmart because we didn't know any better. It's been great so far but I've had high nitrates for a while now and am trying to diagnose what's causing them.

Do I have too much gravel at the bottom? It's around 2-3" inches deep.

As for fish, there's a Pleco, a pitkus cat, 2 red-tailed black sharks, and 4 Bosemani rainbows.

Chemicals are all good except Nitrates.
Am. 0
Nitrite 0ppm
ph 7.4
nitrates 160

BMueller777

Has the tank been up and running for 2.5 years?

Is it newly set up?

Do you clean/stir the gravel during water changes and gravel cleanings?

With 2-3 inches of gravel you shouldn't have a build up of nitrates.

If you can't figure out the problem then maybe you should just take out some gravel and maybe make it 2 inches tops.

__________________
The early bird may get the worm but the second mouse gets the cheese....

Freshwater tanks:
45g: 1 Random river fish, 7 Goldfish, 2 Angel Fish, 2 Black Skirt Tetras

Jay

Nitrates at 160 ppm is way OUT OF CONTROL AND the rest of the information you have provided gives us precious little to go on.

Welcome to our Forums

Talk to us about your water change routines, feeding amounts and schedule,
filtration etc. Full disclosure

Then maybe we can be of some help.

Regards,
Jay

rgdigital

It's been up and running for 2.5 years

I do stir and vacuum the gravel when i do water changes

I'm going to do another 50% water change tonight. I already changed the charcoal filter 2 weeks ago, and also today -instead of once a month.

Also, how long should i let tap water sit before i add it to the tank? i add Prime to the tap water, and then, once mixed, add it to the tank.

Jay

1-2 seconds

Regards,
Jay

rgdigital

I have an under gravel filter with 2 tubes coming up from each corner. I replaced the airstones that came with that 'default' setup and replaced them with powerheads at the top of each tube -so my water-flow is going through the gravel and up into the tubes, then out. My filter is the standard filter that came with the tank -it's got an envelope-type filter full of carbon, then dumps into the tank.

I feed the fish about 3 times per day: when i get up with flake food, when i get home with either flake food or freeze-dried blood worms and once before bed with the same.

i'm not as consistent with the water changes. I just did a 50% change 2 weeks ago, and will do another tonight to get these nitrates down.

hope that helps

BMueller777

Hahaha..... That's great....

__________________
The early bird may get the worm but the second mouse gets the cheese....

Freshwater tanks:
45g: 1 Random river fish, 7 Goldfish, 2 Angel Fish, 2 Black Skirt Tetras

freshwater06

cut back on the feedin to 2 times a day, 25% water change once a week, i sometimes only feed mine once a day every 2 weeks, under gravel filters arent the best, esp if there is alot of gravel, i would lessen the gravel to 1" if not change to a hang on filter

__________________
Fresh water setup
20 gallon tank
-2 golden killifish
-2 small danios
-1 bichir
-2 clown loaches
-2 yellow angels
45 gallon setup
EMPTY

rgdigital

I'll start taking out some gravel and cut the feedings to once a day.

Man, the fish go nuts when i feed them -almost leaping out of the water. They'll not starve on a once a day feeding?

Also, for a future setup, would a system that sucks water into the power heads, forcing it down into the tubes and down into the gravel then up through the gravel be the ideal setup?

BMueller777

Feeding once a day is enough. Sometimes people feed every other day depending on the fish and if there is a sickness going around the tank.

Once a day you will be fine, you'll also have less poo to worry about

__________________
The early bird may get the worm but the second mouse gets the cheese....

Freshwater tanks:
45g: 1 Random river fish, 7 Goldfish, 2 Angel Fish, 2 Black Skirt Tetras