Nitrate question in fish only 50 gallon set-up

[michael1974]

I have a question that hopefully someone can answer quickly. I have an Aqueon canister filter with Fluval ceramic rings,Chemi-Pure,activated carbon and some Fluval Clear Max filter media. I have 4 inches of crushed coral,Aragonite and oolitic sand. I have 7 black mollies,a tomato clown and a pearl scale butterfly. My question is,my ammonia levels read zero,my ph is 8.2'and the nitrites are zero. However my nitrates are between 5 and 10 ppm. What could be causing this nitrate result ?please help. This is three weeks now and I have changed 16. Gallons every week. Thanks,in advance,Michael.

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Michael1974 http:///t/391332/nitrate-question-in-fish-only-50-gallon-set-up#post_3469921
I have a question that hopefully someone can answer quickly. I have an Aqueon canister filter with Fluval ceramic rings,Chemi-Pure,activated carbon and some Fluval Clear Max filter media. I have 4 inches of crushed coral,Aragonite and oolitic sand. I have 7 black mollies,a tomato clown and a pearl scale butterfly. My question is,my ammonia levels read zero,my ph is 8.2'and the nitrites are zero. However my nitrates are between 5 and 10 ppm. What could be causing this nitrate result ?please help. This is three weeks now and I have changed 16. Gallons every week. Thanks,in advance,Michael.
Welcome to the site,
Nitrates at 10 are not considered high. Fishy only....fish do not care about nitrates and it doesn't bother them at high levels.

 

[michael1974]

Thank you,flower for answering. If I want to add some crabs or shrimp,would a 10ppm nitrate level be too high ?Michael

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Michael1974 http:///t/391332/nitrate-question-in-fish-only-50-gallon-set-up#post_3469938
Thank you,flower for answering. If I want to add some crabs or shrimp,would a 10ppm nitrate level be too high ?Michael
Inverts like crabs are okay as long as nitrates stay under 40...but I wouldn't push it past 20. Regular water changes will keep the nitrates low.

 

[michael1974]

Thank you,again. I have had salt water set-ups before,but not with this small a tank. It seems the larger ranks are much more stable. Anyone else have problems with smaller( less than 50 gallon) set-ups ?

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Michael1974 http:///t/391332/nitrate-question-in-fish-only-50-gallon-set-up#post_3470041
Thank you,again. I have had salt water set-ups before,but not with this small a tank. It seems the larger ranks are much more stable. Anyone else have problems with smaller( less than 50 gallon) set-ups ?
Everyone does...the smaller the tank the less wiggle room for error. I have done many saltwater tanks and the smallest was a 30g....I went back to a 56g ASAP...much more stable for my taste.

 

[2quills]

Nitrate doesn't bother fish as high levels?

 

[spanko]

From Bob Fenner
Most fish groups are remarkably tolerant of "practical" levels/concentrations of nitrates (30-40 ppm. let's say). A few tens of parts per million in their water, changes in same over days time is not life-threatening or stressful compared with fluctuations of temperature, varying light/dark cycles, measurable ammonia or nitrite, or hobbyist hands coming into their space for instance. For fish-only or FOWLR (fish only with live rock) systems, nitrates by themselves are rarely a real worry.
Some invertebrate groups are notably touchy to too much or sudden increases of nitrate content in their water. Such material may significantly interfere with respiration and other vital metabolic functions. Fifteen to twenty parts per million are upper limits for most non-vertebrate marine livestock, with many corals being mal-affected at lower levels.

 

[2quills]

Thanks, Henry. I was just looking for some clarification. I always figued 20 and below was a good target range for fish and 10 and below for corals and inverts. Ive seen a lot of folks show up with readins quite a bit higher than 30-40. Even still, say than can tollerate nitrate at the 30-40 range would this have any effect on their resperitory system?

 

[spanko]

I am of the opinion that we should, as responsible aquarists, try to maintain our tanks at natural see water parameters no matter fish only or reef!
"Of the inorganic species, nitrate is often, but not always the highest in concentration. Concentrations in the ocean vary considerably from location to location, and also with depth.2 Surface waters are much lower in concentration due to scavenging by various organisms, and are often less than 0.1 ppm nitrate (not that all concentrations in this article are in ppm nitrate ion, and not in ppm nitrate nitrogen). Deeper waters typically range from 0.5 to 2.5 ppm nitrate. Surface regions where upwelling of deeper water takes place will also have these higher values."

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by 2Quills http:///t/391332/nitrate-question-in-fish-only-50-gallon-set-up#post_3470056
Nitrate doesn't bother fish as high levels?

I wouldn't do it, but I have seen fish only systems with nitrate levels above 100 for a very long time without a problem. They have their tanks working alive with too many fish, looks like maggots IMO....and I wouldn't recommend anybody to do such a thing. I can't deny that the high nitrates didn't seem to bother the fish at all.

 

[2quills]

Maggots lol. I hear ya, Flower. If I had to characterize it I would liken it to people living in big city breathing in smog and other polutants all day. Sure we can live in it but how do we determine the long term effects? Im with Henry as Im sure you are as well...the lower the better would seem to be the best approach.

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by 2Quills http:///t/391332/nitrate-question-in-fish-only-50-gallon-set-up#post_3470108
Maggots lol. I hear ya, Flower. If I had to characterize it I would liken it to people living in big city breathing in smog and other polutants all day. Sure we can live in it but how do we determine the long term effects? Im with Henry as Im sure you are as well...the lower the better would seem to be the best approach.
Totally agree, I can't imagine actually liking a tank that overcrowded. My father (rest his soul) liked his tanks like that. He was always commenting that he wished his tanks were as good looking as mine, then he would stop at the LFS almost everyday. I tried to tell him he had too many fish in one tank...to no avail. Poor fish.