Hi everyone, perhaps someone can help me out. I'm fairly new to the hobby. My tank has been set up for approximately 5-6 months. My Nitrate levels consistently test at 60-80+. I do not overfeed and I do a 50% water change weekly, yet my levels remain high even after a water change. I have even done a 50% and a 35% three days apart with the same results. I know everyone says they don't overfeed, but I'm careful not to. Also, i should mention that since I'm still sorting my scape, I have moved plants around a fair bit, disturbing the substrate. My specs are:
TANK
46 US gallon tank with approx. 6 gallon displacement = 40 US gallons
SUBSTRATE
Blend of Flourite Black, Flourite Sand, Eco-Complete, and a small section of CaribeSea Sand
FERTS - EI DOSING
* KNO3: 11.70 ppm
* KH2PO4: 3.73 ppm
* K2SO4: 11.66 ppm
* CSM+B: 30ml solution of 7.5ml/750 ml (it would be helpful if someone could give me the formula to make the ppm conversion)
* 5 ml Flourish Iron every 2 days
* Water Change 50% weekly
* approx. 10 ml spot tx of H2O2 @ Water Change
CO2
CO2 for 8-9 hrs/day
CO2 range approx. 21-32ppm from lights on to lights off
PARAMATERS
Ammonia: consistently 0.00 ppm
Nitrites: consistently 0.00 ppm
Kh: 4
Tapwater: Ph of 7.2
Ph with CO2 range: ~ 6.59 to 6.74 and approx. 6.8-7.00 six hours after shutting down
LIGHTING
PAR of 48 at 16"
9-10 hrs/day
FILTRATION & CIRCULATION
Eheim Pro 600 4+ with spray bar
Hydor Koralia circulation pump
FLORA
* several large Java Ferns
* Java Moss on large piece of Manzanita
* carpeting plants = S. Repens & Dwarf Hairgrass
* numerous Annubius Nana Petite
* 1 medium Annubius Barteri
* several Alternathera Reineckii Rosefolia
* approx. 6" circumference grouping of Jungel Val
* small amount of trimmed short Moneywort
* one large and several small Seiryu stones
FAUNA
* 9 Cardinal Tetras
* 10 Glowlight Tetras
* 4 Black Neons
* 6 Nerite Snails
* 1 huge Amano Shrimp and 3 smaller ones.
I recently lost 5 Otocinclus Catfish and 5 Amano shrimp (except the big one) when I had a canister filter failure (not the eheim) combined with an accidental dosing of 15ml of Isopropyl Alcohol (don't even ask). My Nitrites were at, or over, 9.0 ppm for several days. In the panic and confusion I lost the bacterial culture in my canister filter. When I installed the eheim, I added a bottle of Seachem Stability and the tank recovered to 0 Nitrites within a few days. I had a short-lived break out of diatomes as it recycled.
My Nitrate problem did not begin with this event. When I first added fish to the tank it tested in the 20-40 range for about 30 days, but than increased to a consistent 60-80+
One last thing - now that you know everything about my tank: The Oto's I had before the event were thriving, but their replacements didn't last more than a few days - I know they have a high mortality rate as they are wild caught, but the LFS claimed to have had them in-store for 1-2 weeks. Any suggestions on the Otos would also be welcome.
THANK YOU IN ADVANCE TO ANYONE WHO READS ALL OF THIS AND REPLYS!
James
TANK
46 US gallon tank with approx. 6 gallon displacement = 40 US gallons
SUBSTRATE
Blend of Flourite Black, Flourite Sand, Eco-Complete, and a small section of CaribeSea Sand
FERTS - EI DOSING
* KNO3: 11.70 ppm
* KH2PO4: 3.73 ppm
* K2SO4: 11.66 ppm
* CSM+B: 30ml solution of 7.5ml/750 ml (it would be helpful if someone could give me the formula to make the ppm conversion)
* 5 ml Flourish Iron every 2 days
* Water Change 50% weekly
* approx. 10 ml spot tx of H2O2 @ Water Change
CO2
CO2 for 8-9 hrs/day
CO2 range approx. 21-32ppm from lights on to lights off
PARAMATERS
Ammonia: consistently 0.00 ppm
Nitrites: consistently 0.00 ppm
Kh: 4
Tapwater: Ph of 7.2
Ph with CO2 range: ~ 6.59 to 6.74 and approx. 6.8-7.00 six hours after shutting down
LIGHTING
PAR of 48 at 16"
9-10 hrs/day
FILTRATION & CIRCULATION
Eheim Pro 600 4+ with spray bar
Hydor Koralia circulation pump
FLORA
* several large Java Ferns
* Java Moss on large piece of Manzanita
* carpeting plants = S. Repens & Dwarf Hairgrass
* numerous Annubius Nana Petite
* 1 medium Annubius Barteri
* several Alternathera Reineckii Rosefolia
* approx. 6" circumference grouping of Jungel Val
* small amount of trimmed short Moneywort
* one large and several small Seiryu stones
FAUNA
* 9 Cardinal Tetras
* 10 Glowlight Tetras
* 4 Black Neons
* 6 Nerite Snails
* 1 huge Amano Shrimp and 3 smaller ones.
I recently lost 5 Otocinclus Catfish and 5 Amano shrimp (except the big one) when I had a canister filter failure (not the eheim) combined with an accidental dosing of 15ml of Isopropyl Alcohol (don't even ask). My Nitrites were at, or over, 9.0 ppm for several days. In the panic and confusion I lost the bacterial culture in my canister filter. When I installed the eheim, I added a bottle of Seachem Stability and the tank recovered to 0 Nitrites within a few days. I had a short-lived break out of diatomes as it recycled.
My Nitrate problem did not begin with this event. When I first added fish to the tank it tested in the 20-40 range for about 30 days, but than increased to a consistent 60-80+
One last thing - now that you know everything about my tank: The Oto's I had before the event were thriving, but their replacements didn't last more than a few days - I know they have a high mortality rate as they are wild caught, but the LFS claimed to have had them in-store for 1-2 weeks. Any suggestions on the Otos would also be welcome.
THANK YOU IN ADVANCE TO ANYONE WHO READS ALL OF THIS AND REPLYS!
James
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